Trooper Donald C. "Pete" Pederson

Donald C. "Pete" Pederson

Trooper Pete Pederson was shot and killed in an ambush by a 16-year-old boy while investigating an accident scene.

Trooper Pederson had been dispatched to an accident scene and, upon arrival, located a vehicle in a ditch. As he approached the vehicle, the boy, who was hiding at the front of the vehicle, opened fire and fatally wounded Trooper Pederson. The suspect fled but was later apprehended. It was determined that Trooper Pederson had issued the boy a citation earlier in the evening, but the boy refused to give a motive as to why he ambushed him.

The suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 5 to 25 years at the Green Bay State Reformatory on December 1, 1972.

Trooper Pederson was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the Wisconsin State Patrol for six years, assigned to District 3. Before that, he had been a police officer in Rhinelander. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, mother, and sister.