Wisconsin Department of Justice - Division of Criminal Investigation, Wisconsin
End of Watch: Friday, November 5, 2004
Age: 34
Tour of Duty: 14 years
Badge Number: 26
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 29, 2004
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Convicted
Agent Balchunas succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained one week earlier. He was shot outside a gas station on West Villard Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Agent Balchunas was on duty as an undercover agent when he stopped at the gas station for a cup of coffee shortly after midnight. As he walked back to his car, he was confronted by two suspects who announced a robbery and pointed a gun at him. One of the suspects approached Agent Balchunas and discovered his gun. The other suspect then fired two rounds, striking Agent Balchunas in the liver.
Agent Balchunas was transported to Froedtert Lutheran Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds 7 days later.
The two suspects fled the scene but were apprehended several days after Agent Balchunas' death. The were both charged with murder. The shooter was convicted of first degree intentional homicide, but the conviction was later overturned on a mistrial. He was found guilty of first degree reckless homicide in a second trial. The accomplice was convicted of felony murder.
Agent Balchunas had served with the Wisconsin Department of Justice for 5 years and had previously served for 9 years with the Milwaukee Police Department. Agent Balchunas also served as a volunteer firefighter with the New Berlin Fire Department. He is survived by his fiancée, parents, sister and brother-in-law, brother, and nephews.