Superior Police Officer Cleared in Fatal Shooting of David Menton
The Douglas County District Attorney has announced that no charges will be filed against Superior Police Officer Ibrahim Carson in connection with the April shooting death of David Donald Ducado Menton. The incident, which took place outside an apartment complex in Superior, was investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation.
According to the final report from District Attorney Mark Fruehauf, the state would have had to demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that Officer Carson’s actions were not in self-defense. Fruehauf stated, “The evidence in this case supports the conclusion that Officer Carson was lawfully entitled to use deadly force to defend himself at the moment he used such force. The evidence does not support the filing of criminal charges against Officer Carson.”
On the night of April 7, Officer Carson was in pursuit of Robert Sloan, a suspect in a theft case, when he encountered Menton and Autumn Khalar. As Carson approached at around 9:45 p.m., Menton and Khalar began walking towards the apartment complex. Despite Carson’s commands to stop, Menton continued walking, leading to a physical confrontation between the two.
During the struggle, Officer Carson reportedly told Menton to “stop resisting” before shooting him in the back of the head. Witnesses reported hearing Menton say something that sounded like “I’m not gonna shoot” shortly before the gunshot, and a 9 millimeter handgun was discovered near Menton’s body. Carson claimed he believed Menton had control of the weapon and posed a lethal threat.
Further examination of evidence, including interviews, body camera footage, and consultation with use-of-force expert Gerald Katchka, reinforced the decision that deadly force was justified. Katchka, a former DCI investigator, supported this conclusion in his report.
The incident has sparked protests from Menton’s family and friends, who have called for justice. Vicky Menton, David’s mother, publicly expressed her grief and demanded answers during a May press conference, stating, “He was shot in the back of his head. He was down on the ground. This is my son. He is a very loving, kind human being. He doesn’t deserve to die that way.”
Superior Police Chief Paul Winterscheidt addressed the situation in a news release, revealing that the department conducted its own review, which included input from an external officer. The review board, comprising officers and defense tactics instructors, concluded that Carson’s actions were in line with departmental policy.
“This incident resulted in the loss of a life and has had a profound impact on Mr. Menton’s family, Officer Carson, members of the Superior Police Department and the broader community,” Winterscheidt noted. “As this process concludes, the Superior Police Department extends its sympathy to Mr. Menton’s family and recognizes the lasting impact this tragedy has had on everyone involved.”
While the criminal case has been closed, Fruehauf emphasized that his decision does not preclude the possibility of a civil lawsuit for monetary damages.
