Opening statements to start in the trial of DCI agent who shot unarmed Quadren Wilson during arrest

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - Was the shooting of Quadren Wilson justified? That’s what a Dane County jury will decide in the trial of Mark Wagner, the DCI agent who shot him while taking him into custody.

On Monday jury selection started. And on Tuesday, the prosecution will lay out its case as to why they don’t think Wagner followed protocol when he shot Wilson during that arrest back in February 2022.

During the arrest in northeast Madison, dozens of federal and state agents surrounded Wilson’s car to arrest him on drug charges. During the incident police say Wagner was one of two agents to fire their gun, hitting Wilson while he was in his car, unarmed.

Now a jury will decide if Wagner’s use of force was justified. He is charged with second degree recklessly endangering safety.

UW Law expert John Gross says this trial will bring light to a tight-lipped investigation that hasn’t been very transparent so far.

“We really don’t know a lot of the police decision making in this case, and it will be interesting as the trial unfolds to get a window into that and to see if police officers can really justify the decisions they made that day. Or did they actually attribute to the danger?” said Gross.

Opening arguments start Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. in Dane County court.

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