28 Minutes of Negotiation at the De Pere Boat Launch

Just before 1 a.m. on Saturday, July 26, 2025, a driver heading home from work called 911: a man was standing on the dock at the Perkofski Boat Launch in De Pere, Wisconsin, with a rifle over his shoulder. De Pere Sgt. Matthew Magno volunteered for the call.

Officers made contact with Scott McDonald, 44, who was in the middle of a suicidal crisis. Early in the encounter he fired one round into the air. For roughly the next 28 minutes, Sgt. Magno talked with him — the long negotiation this episode is built around — while other officers held positions around the launch.

At about 1:33 a.m., McDonald advanced roughly 25 feet toward officers and raised the rifle. Six officers fired — 18 rounds in total. McDonald died at the scene. No officer was injured.

The investigation

The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation led the investigation (case 25-5742) and later released the complete file — the bodycam video, the 911 calls, and the radio traffic — through its Officer-Involved Critical Incidents archive. This episode is built entirely from that public release, in sequence and in full context.

The Brown County District Attorney reviewed the investigation and determined there was no basis to prosecute the officers involved. If you or someone you love is struggling, call or text 988 — the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, free and confidential, 24 hours a day.

Case status

• No charges were filed — Scott McDonald died at the scene
• Officer-involved shooting investigated by the Wisconsin DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation (case 25-5742)
• Brown County District Attorney review: no basis to prosecute the officers involved

Source: Wisconsin DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation case 25-5742, released under Wis. Stat. § 175.47(5)(b) via the DOJ Officer-Involved Critical Incidents archive.