A man who was ordered last week to turn over all his weapons in a domestic dispute opened fire Sunday at his estranged wife’s workplace near Milwaukee, killing three women and injuring four others, authorities said. He then apparently shot himself to death, police said.
The suspect was identified as Radcliffe Franklin Haughton, 45, of Brown Deer, Wis., said Brookfield Police Chief Daniel Tushaus, who said Haughton was found dead in the building, a 9,000-square-foot, two-story salon and day spa across the street from a busy mall. Police had not identified the dead on Sunday evening.
Police told reporters they were expecting an armed encounter with Haughton, who was ultimately found in a locked area in the salon. It took several hours to find him because their search was slowed by concern there may have been an explosive device. Police said it turned out to be a propane tank and they didn’t know who brought it into the building.
Milwaukee County court records show that Haughton’s wife, Zina Daniel Haughton, filed for a restraining order on Oct. 8.
Police said there had been a previous incident at the nail salon, and that Haughton had slashed his wife’s tires.
A hearing was held on Thursday and Haughton was ordered to deliver his firearms to the sheriff and to have no contact for four years with the complainant or the residence. The complainant isn’t identified in the court record, and the court records don’t indicate whether he surrendered any firearms.
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