Ex Military Suspect Captured After Killing Police Officer

AU Officer William Buechner Shot Dead Answering Domestic Call

The chilling dispatch call just after 10pm Auburn time tells the story.

Multiple Auburn Police Officers shot answering a domestic call.

Residents of the Arrowhead trailer park told First News the scene was pure chaos as law enforcement searched for the gunman.

“They ran up, started searching my car with lights and asked for my license. They seemed in a big rush so I was trying to ge it out. I give it to them they run and take cover behind the dumpters and I’m like ducked down in my car like do I need to get down,” Jacob Hester said.

Three Auburn Police Officers identified as Webb Sistrunk, Evan Elliott and William Buechner were met with an ex military man prepared to go to war.

Grady Wayne Wilkes allegedly opened fire with an AR 15 hitting the officers with multiple shots.

Officer Buechner, a 13 year veteran of the Auburn Police Department died a short time after the shooting.

Wilkes was apprehended 9 hours later, less than a mile from the scene with the help from alert citizens he gave up peacefully and was taken into custody without incident.

“The suspect was someone that we were not familiar with before this incident last night. We have not had any dealings with him in this community. He was in the military for a number of years and just someone who worked locally and we’ve not had any issues with him prior to last night,” Chief Register said.

The shooting an ever present reminder the Auburn Mayor said of what police officers endure on the job.

“I ask you also to take time to be intentional to say thank you to these men and women when you see them out and about each and every day and remember that the smiles on their face, on our faces, the freedoms we have the enjoyments that we realize in our community are because those men and women are keeping us safe,” Mayor Ron Anders said.

Auburn Police Chief Paul Register said fellow officers will hold each other up during this ordeal.

“This will be difficult for us but we mainly intend to rally around each other and the families and just get through this together and get back out there and do the job,” Chief Register said.