MILWAUKEE, (Reuters) – A man opened fire at a spa in suburban Milwaukee, Wisconsin, yesterday, killing three people and wounding four others before taking his own life, police said.
The suspect was identified as 45-year-old Radcliffe Haughton, a resident of Brown Deer, Wisconsin, who was placed under a restraining order and directed by a judge to surrender his weapons to local authorities this month in connection with a domestic abuse case involving his wife.
“We believe this incident was domestic violence-related,” Brookfield Police Chief Daniel Tushaus said at a news conference.
All three of those shot to death were female, Tushaus said. Their ages were not immediately provided. The police chief declined to say whether Haughton’s wife was among the victims.
Haughton was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at the Azana Salon & Spa, Tushaus said.
The shooting marked the second outburst of gun violence at a U.S. beauty spa in a matter of days. On Thursday, a gunman opened fire at a salon in suburban Orlando, Florida, killing three women and wounding another before fleeing and committing suicide at a nearby residence.
According to Wisconsin court records, a temporary restraining order related to domestic abuse was issued against Haughton on Oct. 8 in Milwaukee County. On Oct. 18, an injunction was granted prohibiting Haughton from possessing a firearm, and he was ordered to hand over all firearms to the sheriff.
Haughton also was cited for misdemeanor disorderly conduct, described as domestic abuse, stemming from an incident on Jan. 8, 2011. The charge was dismissed on June 15, 2011.
Sunday’s shooting erupted at about 11 a.m. local time, according to eyewitness accounts.