UPDATE: Wisconsin DOJ Releases Report on Killing of 14-year-old Bad River Teen, Jason Pero, Jr.
Published November 11, 2017
MADISON, WISCONSIN – On Saturday, November 11, 2017, the Wisconsin Department of Justice released its findings from the killing of 14-year-old Jason Pero, Jr., a tribal citizen of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Tribe, by a Ashland County deputy sheriff that took place shortly before noon this past Wedensday, November 8, 2017 on the Bad River Indian Reservation in northern Wisconsin.
Tribal officials or Pero’s family have not responded by press time to the statement.
The whole statement is below:
The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), at the request of the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, has been investigating an officer involved death (OID) that took place on November 8, 2017 in Odanah, Wis., which is located on the Bad River Reservation.
The Ashland County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a male subject walking on Maple Street carrying a knife. Ashland County Sheriff’s Deputy Brock Mrdjenovich responded to the scene and encountered a 5’9”, 300 pound male subject who fit the description given by the 911 caller. The subject was later identified as 14-year-old Jason Ike Pero. Pero approached Deputy Mrdjenovich with a large butcher knife and he refused numerous commands to drop the weapon. On two occasions, Pero lunged at the deputy while the deputy was attempting to retreat. Deputy Mrdjenovich fired his service weapon at Pero, striking him twice. Life-saving measures were initiated however, Pero was pronounced dead at Memorial Medical Center in Ashland. DCI has determined Jason Pero was the same person that called 911 reporting a man with a knife, giving his own physical description. Initial information indicates that Pero had been despondent over the few days leading up to the incident and evidence from a search warrant executed on Pero’s bedroom supports that information.
Deputy Mrdjenovich has been interviewed by DOJ and is on paid administrative leave in accordance with Ashland County Sheriff’s Office’s policy. Deputy Mrdjenovich has worked for the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office for approximately one year.
The family members of Jason Pero have been offered victim witness services by the DOJ Office of Crime Victim Services.
The Ashland County District Attorney’s office will receive the written reports following the conclusion of the investigation. DCI aims to turn over all OID investigative reports to the prosecutor within 30 days of the incident.
The Wisconsin DOJ-led investigation of this incident has been a collaborative effort between DCI, the Wisconsin State Patrol, and the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory. The Ashland County Sheriff’s Office has been fully cooperating with DCI during this investigation.
No additional details are available at this time.
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About The Author
Editor
Levi Rickert, a tribal citizen of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, is the publisher and editor of Native News Online. Previously, he served as editor of the Native News Network. He is a resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Condolences to the family of this teenager. There seems to have been a lot of unanswered questions in regards to the young mans mindset.
I try not to pass judgement yet from the beginning and even after prayers, there is a lingering question that TRUTH be brought forward.
May the peoole that ACTUALLY KNEW this young man come forward and speak out.
We love our people dearly. ONLY TRUTH SETS US FREE.
I am so deeply sorry. Jason Pero’s tragic death is a loss for everyone and the ache is deep for his parents, younger siblings, grandparents and all his relatives.
Jason is a reminder to all of us that the despondency of our youth and the suicide rates are a reflection of where we’ve yet to lead them as a People and as a nation. It is by our embracing who they are, their beautiful and needed purpose and that no matter how things appear they are not here as an appearance. By believing in them and for them, especially when they are weary, we must also lift them up so they can see the absolute necessity of being here and now and that love of self and for one’s people is cause to find a reason to celebrate every new gift of every new day.
Our children are crying out and because we love them, because we need them, because every breath they take is worthy, we must teach them self-value, honor and respect, to pray, to love and we must stand for them and with them, teach them even as we are (re-)learning ourselves to be #woke and that there is nothing more important or valuable than the blessings of our children who are our gifts from Creator. We must reach them everyday, they who are chosen to forever forward be inspired to fail in following demanded or chosen footsteps of oppression and to instead flourish in and teach by their walking upon Mother Earth the awakening of this troubled world.
Rest In Peace beloved Jason. May we never agree to allow your life nor your death nor that of any Indigenous, nor any child to have been in vain. I pray everyday we hear and #StandUp for the child warrior’s call to empowering peace within and harmony upon this world.
Could u just wait until it’s determine what happened, No matter which way it go’es, the Deputy Mrdjenovich could of backed off and tried to talk to the young boy like many cops do. Or could of shot him in the leg not the heart.
When a kid is involved, I wish de-escalation would be used more often. Okay, maybe the kid disobeyed the deputy order, but the kid posed no threat to the deputy — at 300 lbs, surely the kid could not have run down the officer. I admit that I know nothing more that what I have read, but I did read 14 years old, 300 lbs, and butcher knife — I might feel differently if I had read 19 years old, 180 lbs, and automatic rifle. I also admit that I haven’t heard the officer’s story. My condolences to the family and community.
There was no knife! Theres video from eye witness. Doj is full of it. Prayers for justice for baby j and his family.
this was not suicide. Do not believe the BS tail covering story spewed by the DOJ. That was merely to make sure they use their authority of position to populate the minds of people in Ashland County in order to minimize damage from the civil suit surely coming down the pike and surely going to be won, because Jason did not “commit suicide.” I knew the family and live in the community. I have a story coming out with much more of the truth. While I agree in general, because the suicide rate on the rez is too high, this was NOT a suicide.