DA: Deputies justified in fatal Primrose shooting

Suspect's use of weapons, struggle over deputy's gun warranted deadly force, Ozanne says

MADISON, Wis. — The deputies involved in a shooting earlier this month that left a man dead will not face charges in connection with the incident, the district attorney said Tuesday afternoon.

Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne said in a report that the deputies who shot and killed 51-year-old Dean Caccamo on May 1 in the town of Primrose acted within the law.

On May 1 at 12:33 p.m., the Dane County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of a woman covered in blood on Hanna Road. Deputies arriving at the scene found a man and woman who were injured and bleeding who said Caccamo had attacked them, according to the report. Deputies entering the house were sprayed with pepper spray and a struggle with Caccamo for a less-than-lethal shotgun followed. A deputy shot Caccamo, puncturing his lung.  Caccamo injured another deputy with a knife before he finally dropped it and was handcuffed, Ozanne’s report said.

Ozanne said in the report that Caccamo’s use of weapons and struggle with deputies over a gun were rightful causes to use deadly force.

“In this case, the deputy was compelled to use deadly force when faced with a suspect utilizing pepper spray on deputies and attempting to disarm another deputy’s firearm,” Ozanne wrote in the report.

Deputies had rendered aid to Caccamo but he was pronounced dead by a Med Flight doctor.

Two deputies were injured in the incident were flown by helicopter to the hospital for treatment and survived.

Ozanne also said the investigation into the incident exceeded the requirements of the new state law passed last month that requires at least two outside law enforcement agencies to be included in an officer-involved shooting investigation. The lead investigator was from Madison police, and officers from Sun Prairie, Fitchburg and the University of Wisconsin-Madison police were included.

Earlier this month, Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney said Caccamo suffered from mental illness.