Friends and family of a Wisconsin man shot and killed last week by a Superior, Wis., police officer are speaking out against the shooting, calling it unjustified and demanding the release of body camera footage of the incident.
David Ducado Menton, 42, from Solon Springs, Wis., was shot around 10 p.m. on April 7, following what law enforcement officials described as a “physical altercation” with the officer.
At a rally outside the Douglas County Courthouse in Superior on April 13, loved ones described Menton as someone who had a tough life and who made mistakes, but also as a passionate, fun-loving, thoughtful person who would do anything for his friends and family, even though he didn’t have much.
“I can't imagine the whole rest of my life without him,” said Autumn Khalar, who has a young son with Menton’s brother. “He's an uncle to my son, and we can't get him back.”
Khalar said she went grocery shopping at Walmart with Menton the night he was killed. Afterwards they stopped to visit a friend when an officer pulled up, looking for the friend who had a warrant out for his arrest.
According to Khalar, Menton got spooked, because he also had an outstanding warrant. He went to their car, and then walked toward his friend’s apartment building. Before Menton made it inside, Khalar said the officer grabbed him and tackled him to the ground.
Shortly thereafter, she said, the officer shot him.
“He didn't even see it coming. And it was why? Because he had a warrant for missing court? I get he has a history. But that does not excuse what happened that night. It was extremely wrong. He doesn't get to die like that. I'm not gonna allow that.”
Khalar acknowledged that Menton resisted the officer. She said he was moving around, trying to get up on his hands and knees. Still, she said the officer didn’t have to shoot him.
“His life shouldn't have ended this short. He should just be in jail right now, getting another chance to turn things around. But instead, his life is over.”
When Menton was 20, he shot and killed his father in self defense at their home near Chisholm in northeast Minnesota, after his father returned home early in the morning and fired a shot at him and his brother, according to several news reports from the time.
More recently, Menton was convicted of several felony charges in northwest Wisconsin, including drug-related charges in 2020.
“He's made some mistakes in his life, but he did not deserve to go out like that. He's gonna be missed by a lot of people in this community,” said his friend Kyle Dodrill.
According to the account released by state officials the day after the shooting, Menton attempted to flee the scene as the officer approached. The officer and Menton then “engaged in a physical altercation. During the altercation, the officer discharged their weapon, striking the subject.”
Officers also recovered a handgun at the scene. It’s unclear whose firearm it was.
The Superior Police Department has not identified the officer who shot Menton. The officer is on standard administrative leave. The officer was wearing a body camera. Footage from the incident has not been released.
A spokesperson for the Wisconsin Department of Justice said the agency’s priority is to investigate the incident “in a thorough and objective manner.” It will then provide the investigation’s reports to the district attorney, who will decide whether to file criminal charges.
In a statement issued Monday afternoon, Superior police chief Paul Winterscheidt acknowledged community members are looking for answers.
“Our officers involved responded to a rapidly evolving and dangerous situation. They are now navigating not only the weight of that moment, but also the scrutiny that follows,” Winterscheidt said.
“We will always support our officers when they act in good faith, in accordance with their training, and in service to protecting this community. That support is not conditional on public opinion or social media narratives; it is grounded in the facts, the law, and the responsibilities they carry every day.”
