Boy fatally shot by deputy in northern Wisconsin, mother believes son was murdered

By: Stephanie Staudinger

Posted: Nov 9, 2017 3:48 PM CST

NOW: Boy fatally shot by deputy in northern Wisconsin, mother believes son was murdered

ODANAH, Wis. - The mother of an 8th grade boy fatally shot by a sheriff's deputy on a northern Wisconsin reservation says she believes her son was murdered. Holly Gauthier tells Duluth station WDIO-TV there is no reason to justify shooting a 14-year-old boy. Gauthier says her son Jason Pero was home sick from school on Wednesday and was staying with his grandparents.

Jason's grandfather, Alan Pero, says his grandson "never had one mean bone in his body."

The Ashland County Sheriff's Office says a deputy responded to a report of a male armed with a knife and shot the person after encountering him in Odanah Wednesday. State investigators say a knife was found at the scene. Pero's family questions whether the boy had a knife.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice is investigating.