Walworth County Sheriff releases name of deputy who shot inmate
ELKHORN — Walworth County Sheriff David Graves on Wednesday released the name of the deputy who fatally shot an inmate at an Elkhorn hospital one month ago.
Richard Lagle, a deputy since 2009, shot and killed 18-year-old Alfredo Emilio Villarreal on Jan. 21 at Aurora Lakeland Medical Center after Villarreal tried to escape, Graves said. Lagle has been on administrative duty while the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office investigates the shooting, Graves said.
Graves did not offer a timetable for the investigation but said it could be complete and sent to Walworth County District Attorney Daniel Necci as soon as next week.
On Monday, Graves declined Gazette requests to release Lagle’s name because of the investigation. He also cited threats against the deputy he said authorities learned about after the shooting.
On Wednesday, after questions from The Gazette about the deputy’s identity—including a formal request under state law—Graves made the information public.
Lagle was among the deputies taking two-hour shifts guarding Villarreal at the hospital, Graves said. According to a news release, Villarreal was undergoing tests and observation at that time.
Just after 6:45 p.m., Lagle unshackled Villarreal to let him use the bathroom. That’s when Villarreal started punching and kicking Lagle in the face, Graves said, leaving the deputy with a broken nose. Villarreal then came after Lagle with a chair, Graves said.
Lagle then shot Villarreal, who died at the scene, Graves said.
Part of the investigation is focused on Lagle’s Taser. Although the deputy deployed it during the struggle, it was not effective, Graves said.
“We don’t know exactly what happened there, whether it missed or didn’t deploy right,” Graves said.
Villarreal had been arrested the night before on suspicion of violating his parole. He also was involved in a drive-by shooting Jan. 19 in Elkhorn, according to court documents.
Rochele Sorg, one of three people charged in the drive-by shooting, told authorities Villarreal shot a gun out of the car window, according to a criminal complaint.
