Highway Gunman Accused of Taking Mom's Life Now Faces Reduced Charges

SAUK COUNTY, WI — A charge of first-degree intentional homicide against a Wisconsin man accused of shooting and killing a Buffalo Grove mother while she rode in the passenger seat of her family’s car has been reduced to first-degree reckless homicide, according to media reports.

Prosecutors on Monday said Zachary Hays’ mental state was the reason behind downgrading the most serious charge filed in connection with the May 1 shooting that killed Tracy Czaczkowski, the mother of two young children.

Czaczkowski was shot in the neck while on her way home from a Wisconsin Dells vacation with her family when Hays opened fire on the Czaczkowski family’s BMW sedan as well as other cars on a busy I-90/I-94 near Lake Delton. Czaczkowski died a day later after being airlifted to a Madison hospital.

Hays also faces three felony counts of recklessly endangering safety in connection with the Sauk County, Wisconsin, highway shooting. He is also charged with first-degree reckless homicide for allegations he killed his neighbor, a 42-year-old West Allis man, earlier in the day.

• Sauk County and West Allis Shooter Identified, Charged

In the highway shooting, Hays and his two brothers were in the same car when Hays opened fire. One shot hit the passenger side door of the Czaczkowski’s BMW sedan. Another hit the hood. And a devastating shot hit Tracy in the neck. Her husband tried to render medical aid to her as they waited for paramedics, police said Monday.

Czaczkowski’s husband, Greg, and young children, who were also in the car, were not injured. The children are students at St. Mary School in Buffalo Grove, according to the Buffalo Grove Countryside.

Deputies later caught up with Hays and shot him on the highway because he refused to drop his gun.

• Buffalo Grove Mom Has Died Following Shooting on Wisconsin Highway

Prosecutors did not elaborate on why they decided to downgrade the charge of intentional homicide to reckless homicide during a hearing on Monday. But a psychiatrist’s report submitted in the Milwaukee County homicide case reveals Hays may be suffering from schizophrenia or another mental disorder, the Lake County News Sun reports.

Hays said his issues could stem from his use of marijuana laced with something like PCP, according to the article.

More via the Lake County News Sun

Scott Anderson contributed to this article