UPDATE: Deadly Shooting in Fitchburg
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UPDATE: Deadly Shooting in Fitchburg
UPDATE: 911 call released in this case. INSIDE: Listen to the 911 call.
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UPDATED Friday, September 18 at 3:00 p.m.

The 911 call from the home invasion that left one man dead in Fitchburg has been released. And it highlights just how intense the situation was.

Viewer warning: parts of this seven minute call are very dramatic.

Dispatcher: "911. What's the emergency?"
Homeowner: "Help! Somebody just broke into my house."
Dispatcher: "What's the address?"
Homeowner: "He came after me."

The call came just before two o'clock on Wednesday afternoon.

Homeowner: "I shot him."
Dispatcher: "You shot him?"
Homeowner: "Yes."

42-year-old Roberto Vega-Gil was shot and killed after police say he broke into a house in Fitchburg.

Homeowner: "Hurry up."
Dispatcher: "OK. The police are coming. OK?"

The man who pulled the trigger was the homeowner, 41-year-old Jamie Chen.

Homeowner: "He's just laying there."
Dispatcher: "He's just laying there?"
Homeowner: "Yes."
Dispatcher: "OK. That's fine Jamie. Just stay on the line with me. OK?"
Homeowner: "Yeah."

Later in the call he explained the situation.

Homeowner: "I heard some banging."
Dispatcher: "You can hear banging now?
Homeowner: "He kicked it in."
Dispatcher: "OK. Hold on."
Homeowner: "And then I saw this big guy running up the stairs towards me and I opened the door when he... when I saw him he turned towards me and I shot."
Dispatcher: "OK."

The dispatcher then asked if the man was still alive. Chen went to check.

Homeowner: "I think he's dead."
Dispatcher: "You think he's dead?"
Homeowner: "I think so."
Dispatcher: "OK. I want you to stay where you are. The police are coming and an ambulance is coming. OK?"
Homeowner: "Hurry please."
Dispatcher: "We're coming."
Homeowner: "Hurry!"

Thinking there was only one intruder, Chen unloads the gun and walks outside to wait for police.

Dispatcher: "Are you able to go downstairs and go out the front door?"
Homeowner: "Yes. I'm going to go now."
Dispatcher: "OK. I'm staying on the phone with you."

It was only minutes later when they arrived.

Homeowner: "The cops are here."
Dispatcher: "OK. The cops are there?"

Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard said there will not be any charges filed against Chen.

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UPDATED Thursday, September 17, 2009 --- 9:05 a.m.

The 911 call has been released in this case. Click here to listen to it.

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UPDATED Thursday, September 17, 2009 --- 4:40 p.m.

The fiancee of the man who was shot and killed after he broke into a house speaks.

Forty-one-year-old Jamie Chen was alone at his home on the 2900 block of Osmundsen Road in Fitchburg Wednesday afternoon when police say Roberto Vega-Gil broke in. Fearing for his life, Chen grabbed a gun.

A short time later he shot and killed Vega-Gil as he emerged from the basement. And now the intruder's family is trying to figure out why he did what he did.

"This is Roberto and I when we were ready to go to a baptism," said a sobbing Shelly Parnell as she held a picture of the two.

In four months, Parnell and Vega-Gil were to be married. But all their plans ended Wednesday, when Parnell got a call saying her fiancee broke into an upscale house in Fitchburg, where he was shot and killed.

"I don't see him doing this," added Parnell. "I can't fathom him doing this. It's not something he would do."

Parnell spoke to Vega-Gil, 90-minutes before the shooting. She said he was at their home recovering from a car accident that kept him from working. Now all she can do is search for answers.

"He is a very loving man," she said. "That's what doesn't make sense. We don't need anything. We didn't need anything for him to break into a house. We didn't need anything. We've got everything we need. I just can't believe he's gone."

Vega-Gil has a history of convictions dating back to the mid 1980s including, aggravating stalking, burglary while armed, theft, and forgery. He was on probation at the time of the break-in from a 2009 felony conviction.

"I can't just see him trying to attack somebody," added Parnell's cousin Brenda Lawyer. "That is not his character to just attack somebody."

But, Parnell said that Vega-Gil had a history with drugs, which may have contributed to his actions.

"He was a good person. And if he did break into that house he didn't deserve to die," stated Parnell.

When asked if she blamed the homeowner for her fiance's death, she said, "No. Because I'm not in there position and I wouldn't want to be in their position."

A neighbor said the Chen's once owned a popular Chinese restaurant in Madison that they sold a few years ago.

The police reports will now be forwarded to the Dane County District Attorney for review.

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UPDATED Thursday, September 17, 2009 --- 2:20 p.m.

Press Release from the Fitchburg Police Department:

On September 16, 2009, at 1:51 p.m., Fitchburg Police responded to 2969 Osmundsen Road for a report of a shooting. The investigation has determined a resident of 2969 Osmundsen Road, Jamie Chen, age 41, was alone in the home. Chen heard a loud noise from a lower-level of the home and then sounds of an individual entering the home. Chen armed himself with a shotgun after hearing this. A subject, identified as Roberto Vega-Gil, age 42 of Madison, emerged from the basement stairway into the first floor of Chen’s residence. Upon seeing Vega-Gil, and believing him to be an intruder, Chen fired one shot from the shotgun, striking and killing Vega-Gil. Chen immediately called 911 to report that he had shot an intruder in his home.

Upon arrival of police, Officers met a distraught Chen in the driveway of his home. Officers clearing Chen’s residence found Vega-Gil deceased on the first floor. Chen was taken to the Fitchburg Police Department where he cooperated fully with investigating Detectives. After speaking with Detectives, Chen was released. Investigatory personnel remained on scene until approximately 11:45 p.m. on September 16 processing the scene.

Based upon evidence at the scene, to include forced entry and that Vega-Gil was wearing gloves; it is believed Vega-Gil entered the residence to burglarize it. It is not believed Vega-Gil was armed at the time he was shot by Chen. Vega-Gil has previous convictions in Florida for aggravated stalking, burglary while armed, carrying a concealed weapon, theft, and possession of burglary tools dating back to the mid 1980’s.

The reports regarding this death will be forwarded to the Dane County District Attorney’s for review. Assistance was provided by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Dane County Coroner’s Office, the Fitchburg Fire Department, and the Madison Police Department.

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UPDATED Thursday, September 17, 2009 --- 1:40 p.m.

From Kurt Karbusicky, Interim Coroner:

On today’s date an autopsy was performed on the man who was shot in the City of Fitchburg on 09/16/09. The decedent has been identified as ROBERTO VEGA-GIL, 42, of Madison, WI.

Preliminary results of the autopsy indicate that the cause of death was a single gunshot wound.

Investigation is still ongoing by Fitchburg PD, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Madison PD, and the Dane County Coroner’s Office. No further information is being released at this time.

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UPDATED Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 12:45 p.m.

The fiancee of an intruder who was shot dead at a house in Fitchburg Wednesday afternoon is mourning his death.

"He is a very loving man," said Shelly Parnell. "That's what doesn't make sense. We don't need anything. We didn't need anything for him to break into a house. We didn't need anything. We've got everything we need. I just can't believe he's gone."

Parnell spoke to her fiancee, 42-year-old Roberto Vega-Gil, 90-minutes before the shooting. She said he was at their home were he was recovering from a car accident that kept him from working.

According to on-line stat records, Gil has been convicted for various felonies from forgery to victim intimidation. He was also currently on probation from a 2008 felony conviction.

Parnell also said that Gil had a history with drugs and that may have contributed to his actions.

"He was a good person," added Parnell. "And if he did break into that house. He didn't deserve to die."

When asked if she blames the man who shot her fiancee, she said, "No [I don't blame him]. Because I'm not in there position and I wouldn't want to be in their position."

NBC-15 spoke with neighbors who said the shooter has two elementary aged children whom he walks to the bus stop every morning. They also said the family once owned a popular Chinese restaurant in Madison that they sold a few years ago.

Police have not released the shooter's name. But, they said no charges are being considered against him. More information is expected out Thursday afternoon.

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UPDATED Thursday, September 17, 2009 --- 9:00 a.m.

FITCHBURG, Wis. (AP) -- Police say a man has shot and killed an intruder who entered his parents' home near Madison.

Deputy Chief Donald Bates of the Fitchburg Police Department says Peter Chen and his wife were not at home on Wednesday afternoon when the incident happened, but he says their adult son was. The son shot the intruder, who was pronounced dead by the Dane County coroner's office.

Bates wouldn't give the name of Peter Chen's son and hasn't yet provided details about the intruder.

He says the son is cooperating with the investigation and that the shooting appears to be an act of self-defense.

Fitchburg is located just south of Madison.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Wednesday, September 16, 2009 -- 9:15 p.m.

It happened around 2 p.m. Wednesday. A stranger enters a home in the Seminole Hills neighborhood in Fitchburg and a resident shot and killed him.

Police still don't know why the 40-year-old Madison man entered the home on Osmundsen Road, but now the acting coroner is busy letting family members know he's dead.

And residents in the neighborhood are still reeling from the days events.

"It's quiet... nothing happens here. It's very neighborly."

Jeanne Davenport and her friend Sue Bauer were out on Wednesday afternoon to find out what was going on, as law enforcement officials from Fitchburg, Madison and the Dane County Sheriff's Department shut down the intersection of McKee and Osmundsen Roads in Fitchburg.

" We only live a couple of blocks away."

Phil Caruso couldn't believe what was going on either as he watched police try to put together the pieces.

Lieutenant Chad Brecklin says, " That's something we're still trying to determine - what all led up to this incident."

Details are still missing, but here's what we do know.

Just before 2 p.m., the Fitchburg Police Department got a call about the shooting.

A few minutes later, officers and a police dog entered the home.

They found a dead 40-year-old man and a very upset resident.

"As you can imagine he's shook up. Went through a very stressful traumatic situation, " says Lt. Brecklin.

Police say three people live in the home but only one was there at the time of the shooting. They don't know if the two knew each other and they say they don't have a reason to believe they did.

"We're still in the process of determining what transpired as to whether or not it was a burglary or a home invasion, robbery sort of thing."

That's all the information police say they'll release for now. But they plan on having more Thursday once the autopsy is complete.

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UPDATED Wednesday, September 16, 2009 --- 7:07 p.m.

Fitchburg Police say the person who died at the scene was a 40-year-old male, but would not offer any other details.

There was only one person in the home at the time, which was the shooter.

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UPDATED Wednesday, September 16, 2009 --- 4:30 p.m.

Fitchburg Police just updated reporters:

Police received the call at 1:51 p.m. this afternoon.

Officers found an individual shot and killed inside the home, at 2969 Osmundsen Road. This is in the McKee Road area.

The shooter lives at the home with his mom and dad. His parents were not at home at the time of the shooting.

The shooter did not know the person killed.

The shooter is cooperating and gave statements to the Fitchburg Police Department.

At this time, he does not face any charges.

Police reiterate that no one is in danger.

___________________________________________________

UPDATED Wednesday, September 16, 2009 --- 3:25 p.m.
Originally Posted Wednesday, September 16, 2009 --- 2:00 p.m.

Right now police in Fitchburg are at the scene of a shooting.

The scene is at 2969 Osmundsen Road. This is in the McKee Road area.

NBC15 has a crew at the scene, gathering information. NBC15's Barclay Pollak says the Dane County Emergency Command Unit just arrived at the scene.

The Fitchburg Police Department is the lead agency in this investigation; Madison is assisting.

Osmundsen Road is closed north of McKee. The neighborhood is blocked-off right now.

Police are expected to update reporters at 4:00 p.m. We hope to carry that briefing LIVE on NBC15 News at 4:00 p.m.

More details will be posted as they become available.


Latest Comments

Posted by: mad Location: madison on Oct 22, 2009 at 01:21 AM

she didnt know about fl history she stil lost someone she loved you know every faimly has a black sheep!!! he with out sin big or small think about it only god knows what happend both faimlys lost!!!!
Posted by: moi on Sep 23, 2009 at 11:25 AM

To RA, That dispatcher never told him to go check on the intruder, she asked him if there was much bleeding. Big difference. He was the one that went out to check on his own. This dispatcher did an awesome job under the circumstances.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 21, 2009 at 11:55 AM

Annonymous 9-20, 7:12pm, I made the comment regarding the tape of the call. I've heard plenty of these tapes because of my profession. Hearing this tape does nothing to change my opinion of the Zimmerman case because I already knew the Madison Police Department did a huge disservice to the 911 center. MPD had the luxury of hearing the tape over and over and over again. They had the luxury of being able to have the tape enhanced, knock out the white noise, knock out the humming, and sit in a quiet room to listen to it. Though its been several years since I've been in the 911 center, its a noisy place with phones rining, computers beeping, people talking on radios, etc. They do a heck of a job and have been treated as a scapegoat. I really wish a judge would allow the Zimmerman tape to be released in an un-edited, original version so the community could hear what the dispatcher heard. This tape is just another fine example of the poor quality phone lines.
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