'He was needed': Community grateful for officer who stopped Racine County gas station shooter

FRANKSVILLE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A Racine County Sheriff's investigator is recovering Wednesday afternoon, July 14, after being involved in a deadly gas station shooting rampage on July 13.

Authorities say the officer was hurt and another man was killed by the suspect.

The staff inside the Mobil gas station in Franksville say they're grateful that investigator was at their location yesterday morning.

This feeling is shared by others at nearby businesses who, like many, are still filled with questions.

"It's just, you know, why did he pick him. Why, why did any of this happen?" asked Dale Erdmann, bar manager at Brossman's Bar in Franksville. 

The suspect's rampage started just more than two miles away at the Pilot Travel Center, near Interstate 94, in Caledonia.

Racine County Sheriff Chris Schmaling said a 32-year-old man shot and killed a 22-year-old man who was simply pumping gas.

He shot at another passerby and then sped off to the Mobil.

Authorities say the suspect, unknowingly, approached and then shot the undercover Sheriff's investigator, who fired back and killed the suspect.

"Sometimes you say, 'geez, that's too bad that they weren't there when they were needed," said Erdmann. "Well, he was there, and he was needed, and he was lucky enough to get everything done decently where nobody else got hurt, killed, other than himself getting hurt."

Police have not released the name of the suspect or the victims in the shooting.