• Tweet
• Share
• Email
• Print

SHEBOYGAN - Court Commissioner Rebecca Persick called the killing "senseless" and "mind-boggling." A 31-year-old man died at a tavern, apparently shot by a stranger more than twice his age.

Gallery observers could clearly see suspect Frank Hvizdak's black eye when he appeared in court by teleconference Thursday.  His attorney, Brian Kinstler, said his client was injured when bar patrons wrestled Hvizdak to the ground. The 63-year-old grandfather and gun dealer is now an accused murderer.

Persick asked, "are you employed at this point?"

"Retired, on disability," Hvizdak responded.

Investigators say Hvizdak illegally carried a pocket-sized pistol into Racer's Hall in the Town of Sheboygan Falls late Tuesday night. He had a short talk with 31-year-old, apparent stranger Jason TenPas.

Witnesses say without explanation, Hvizdak shot TenPas with the pistol. Four bullets struck TenPas, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Sheboygan County Coroner.

One witness said the two men seemed to be "bickering," but the content of the conversation leading up to the shots is an unsolved mystery.

"The only people who were present during the incident and who heard the two talking to each other could not understand what they were saying," District Attorney Joe DeCecco said. "There was no yelling. There was no shouting."

The victim's friends became emotional when they saw the accused killer in court.

"I've been calling his cell phone off and on throughout the day just to hear his voice," said Stacy Stephan, the victim's girlfriend.

Matt Pfeifer was with TenPas at the bar.

"I tried to help him, but I was too late," Pfeifer told TODAY'S TMJ4 reporter Tom Murray.

Hvizdak will have to post $750,000 bail if he wants to get out of jail as his case proceeds. Hvizdak's attorney told the commissioner that his client cannot afford that amount.

This marks the first homicide in the Town of Sheboygan Falls since 1979, the sheriff's department said.