4 found dead in West Bend home: What police have and have not released

4 found dead in West Bend home: What police have and have not released Advertisement Updated: 1:54 PM CST Nov 10, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Taylor Lang Digital Content Manager 4 found dead in West Bend home: What police have and have not released Updated: 1:54 PM CST Nov 10, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Taylor Lang Digital Content Manager WEST BEND, Wis. — West Bend police are investigating an incident inside a home on East Washington Street that left four people and a dog dead , another girl hospitalized, and a community grieving with questions left unanswered. WISN 12 News is working to get answers to these questions. Here's the information police have and have not released. Advertisement The latest MPD confirmed David Slawnikowski, the man found dead inside the home, was a retired Milwaukee police officer. 12 News sources say he is a suspect. There will be a community fundraiser Nov. 29, at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Organizers created a fundraising page with more information. What we know The scene Officers were called to East Washington Street just before noon on Saturday, Nov. 7. West Bend police found four people, including two children, and a dog dead inside a home. "Everybody in the home was connected to one another," West Bend Lieutenant Brian McAndrews said during the news conference on Saturday. First responders took another girl to the hospital. Police told 12 News that she is stable. Officers recovered a gun from inside the home that they believe was involved. The suspect Sources tell 12 News the suspect was among the dead. West Bend police identified the man inside the home on Monday as 54-year-old David Slawnikowski. The Milwaukee Police Department confirmed that Slawnikowski was employed as an officer from Nov. 16, 1998, until July 10, 2012. His employment ended due to "ordinary disability retirement," MPD stated. Community response On Sunday, dozens of people left flowers, balloons, candles and candy on the property in memory. The vigil has continued to grow. There will be a community fundraiser Nov. 29, at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Organizers created a fundraising page with more information. Living Word Lutheran High School released a statement to 12 News on Monday: "The focus of Living Word Lutheran High School right now is on supporting our students and staff as we minister to their needs amid tragedy in our community. We have communicated directly with our families and staff with regard to additional support services available. This includes, but is not limited to, additional counselors, pastoral support, and reinforcement of the hope we have in the saving grace of Christ. As a community, we remain steadfast in our mission to serve young people and their families. At this time, this includes refraining from sharing any details with regard to specific families involved." Latest news conference Watch the latest news conference from Saturday, Nov. 7, below. What police have not/will not release In response to 12 News requests for video and information, West Bend police stated on Tuesday, "We understand the importance of providing information to the community; however, as we have already indicated in our previous release, the information shared by the department at this time is all we are prepared to provide.This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and we are not going to release additional investigative details at this stage." The department stated that requests would be denied because requested records could contain infomation "that could compromise the ongoing investigation." Identities Police are not releasing the names or ages of the other three people who died, nor of the child who is in the hospital. "Out of respect for the victims, their loved ones, and, most importantly, for the protection of the surviving victim, consistent with the constitutional privacy protections established under Marsy's Law, the identities of the victims will not be released," West Bend police said on Monday night. Employment records WISN 12 News requested the suspect's employment records from MPD, but were told the department does not keep them after eight years, which is in accordance with the City of Milwaukee's records retention schedule. "As a result, the department no longer maintains any records pertaining to David Slawnikowski and therefore cannot fulfill any requests for such records," the department said in a response to 12 News. Timeline Police have not released when the deaths are believed to have happened. 12 News has requested body camera, surveillance video and 911 calls from the West Bend Police Department spanning Friday evening to Saturday morning. Circumstances West Bend police said during the press conference that they were still investigating if all of the deaths were by firearm. West Bend police have said the girl who was taken to the hospital is stable, but have not released the severity of her condition or her injuries. West Bend police would not confirm whether the incident was a murder-suicide. 12 News has requested prior calls for service, investigative reports, as well as the cause and manner of death for the victims. Public resources Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact the West Bend Police Department at (262) 335-5000. If you or someone you know needs help, you can talk with the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 800-799-7233, texting "START" to 88788 or you can chat online here . Make WISN a preferred source on Google Add Preferred Source Share Infinite Scroll Enabled Top Picks Inflation numbers are in. 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