In the quiet of a fall morning in Wisconsin Rapids, two separate homes became the sites of tragedy. One man was found dead inside his house by law-enforcement; another was dropped off at a hospital unconscious, and despite heroic efforts, could not be saved. The city now grapples with the shock of two homicides that occurred within hours of each other, a heartbreaking double blow for two families and the wider community.
The first call came in late October 30 / early October 31, when police discovered 56-year-old Randall E. Harris Sr. at his residence on 11th Street South. Officers pronounced him dead at the scene, and within hours the autopsy was scheduled for Monday in Madison. Investigators soon took his son, 34-year-old Randall E. Harris Jr., into custody, charging him in connection with his father’s death and holding him at the Wood County Jail. Law enforcement has identified the case as an isolated incident unrelated to the other death.
Meanwhile, in what appears to have been a separate event, 34-year-old Antoni R. Quinones was found suffering from severe injuries at a home on 21st Avenue South. He was taken to Aspirus Wisconsin Rapids Hospital, arriving in a private vehicle, but despite emergency efforts he passed away. Investigators say the incident is under active investigation, but no further suspect or motive details have been released yet. Again, though occurring nearly simultaneously, this case is not linked to the Harris case.
Wisconsin Rapids Police Department (WRPD) emphasized that both homes remain active crime scenes under law-enforcement security. Chief Daniel Hostens praised the prompt, professional response by detectives, the Wood County Sheriff’s Department, the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation and the Wisconsin Crime Laboratory. “Their commitment and collaboration have been instrumental in advancing these ongoing investigations,” he said.
According to the WRPD, the community was briefly placed under a shelter-in-place order in a roughly north-south section of the city (between 8th St South and 16th St South & Baker St to E Riverview Expressway) while those first scenes were secured. That order has since been lifted, and police assure residents there is currently no known threat to public safety.
For the grieving loved ones of both men, the horror of the events is still unfolding. Two families now face raw questions–why this happened, who is responsible, and how can they find closure. The community, too, has been rattled: locals spoke of concern for children who witnessed the chaos and the barricades, and of how normal routines felt fragile in the face of sudden violence. One neighbor summed it up: “We have good neighbors, we watch out for each other… it’s just once in a while you have something bad happen.”
While autopsies for both victims are scheduled for Monday, and detectives continue to canvass, interview, and collect evidence, the bigger picture remains full of uncertainties. If you live in or spent time in the Wood County area and might have information — even seemingly small — local officials urge you to contact the Wisconsin Rapids Police Department or submit tips anonymously through Wood County Crime Stoppers.
Two men. Two homes. One city stunned. As investigations proceed, the hope is that concrete answers will emerge—and with them, some semblance of comfort for families whose lives were forever altered in a matter of hours.
