WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAU) -- The suspect in a Saturday night shooting incident was in court this afternoon.
21-year-old Kyle A. Schaefer of Wausau is accused of leaving the basement of a Town of Maine home Saturday night, opening the door, and firing his weapon.
The three shots struck his aunt and uncle, Patrick and Sandra Schmitt. The Schmitt’s are still hospitalized at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Sandra is in good condition. Patrick is listed as serious but stable.
Schaefer faces two attempted homicide charges and three reckless endangerment charges.
Deputy District Attorney Theresa Whetsteone says bond was set very high by Judge Michael Moran. “The defendant appeared for his initial appearance. A one-million dollar cash bond was set with some conditions that will provide for some protection of the victims, even while the defendant is in custody.”
Those protections include ordering Schaefer not to contact the victims by letter or phone.
Whetsteone says investigators are still trying to figure out some of the details, including a possible motive for the shootings. “In this case, it sounds like the defendant walked up the steps, opened the basement door, and began to shoot, and as the investigation continues I don’t know what will develop, but at this point in time, it seems like it was sort of without warning.”
The complaint says Schaefer was grieving the recent loss of his grandmother to cancer, and he had also lost a job after having it less than three days.
Schaefer will be back in court for a preliminary hearing May 14th at 9:00 a.m.