COLUMBIA COUNTY — A 43-year-old West Allis man was arrested Thursday in connection to the homicide of a man in Columbia County, Wisconsin in 2019.
The victim, Keith R. Wolf, was shot and killed in his home in the Town of Leeds on Sept. 27, 2019. News outlets reported at the time that his family believed he was protecting them from an intruder in the moments before his tragic death.
After more than a year of searching for suspects, the Columbia County Sheriff's Office says it executed a search warrant at a home in West Allis Thursday. There, they arrested the suspect in the homicide, identified as Jason A. Kijewaksi.
Authorities are pursuing one count of First-Degree Intentional Homicide for Kijewaksi, a charge that could put him behind bars for life, if convicted. Other charges are expected, the Office states.
The Sheriff's Office explained in a statement Thursday evening that deputies found a handgun they believe was used in the killing of the victim.
Details in the case are being withheld at this time, the Office says, and the investigation is still ongoing.
The hunt for the suspect involved a large team of state and federal departments, including the DOJ's Division of Criminal Investigation, the FBI, State Patrol and West Allis Police.
Their investigation including interviewing hundreds of people, processing numerous pieces of evidence and following "voluminous" leads from the forensic, ballistics, and DNA evidence obtained from Wolf’s home, the Sheriff's Office said.
Sheriff Roger Brandner said this in the statement Thursday:
"Sheriff Brandner wants to personally thank all who were involved for their relentless efforts in finding justice for Keith and his family, but extends special gratitude to Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Captain Jason Kocovsky and Detective Sergeant Tim Schultz, DCI Special Agent James Holmes, and all of the behind the scenes investigative team members for their meticulous, determined, and professional work."
"Per the family’s request, please respect their privacy during these difficult times. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Keith Wolf family as they continue to grieve this egregious act."
