Family of Oshkosh shooting victim remembers loved one

OSHKOSH (NBC 26) — An 18-year-old Fond du Lac man is charged with homicide after he shot and killed a 19-year-old Tuesday night in Oshkosh.

• Police said an 18-year-old Fond du Lac man was arrested on a charge of first-degree intentional homicide for shooting a 19-year-old Michigan man.
• The victim's family said he was staying with them in Oshkosh.
• The video shows more information about the victim and the investigation.

On Wednesday afternoon, Avuk Atak and her sisters stood at the corner of Wisconsin and Prospect streets in Oshkosh, praying.
“Her life has flown away,” Atak said. “That’s not something every mother can wish for.”

Atak learned Tuesday night that it was near that street corner that his 19-year-old nephew, Atem Mathiang, had been shot dead.

“I want my entire community, like all of them here, my sisters, to be strong for Atem who lost his life today,” Atak said.

Atak said Mathiang stayed with her when she visited from Michigan.

“He loved us all,” Atak said. “He always wanted to be with us.”

Oshkosh police said the victim was shot multiple times and, with the help of Fond du Lac police, arrested a suspect within hours.

Officer Kate Mann said the suspect is an 18-year-old from Fond du Lac, and he is being held on a charge of first-degree intentional homicide. Mann said they believe there is only one suspect.

Fond du Lac police said the suspect has had more than 20 encounters with police in Fond du Lac since 2022.

Mann said the victim and suspect did not know each other.

After speaking with Mathiang's family, NBC 26 found information online about a man by the same name who was charged in a fatal crash in Grand Rapids last August.

Mathiang's family confirmed he was involved in a fatal crash last year and said he plans to return to Michigan for his next court appearance.

Court documents show he was charged with careless driving causing death and was released on bail in January this year.

According to Grand Rapids police, the car he was driving struck a motorcycle, killing a 21-year-old man.

Police said they will release the name of the suspect in Tuesday's shooting after he is charged by the district attorney's office.