GREENFIELD (WISN) — New details are emerging about a fatal random stabbing of a Madison man in Greenfield.
Police said Amando Lang, 19, of Greenfield, fatally stabbed Ben Christianson, 49, of Madison.
It happened about noon Tuesday at South 60th Street and West Armour Avenue.
Investigators described the attack as completely random.
They don’t believe Lang and Christianson knew each other.
Christianson worked for an engineering firm in Sauk City.
According to a police search warrant, Christianson was collecting soil samples for research on new light pole footings in the median.
Investigators said Lang cut Christianson’s throat.
Passersby rendered first aid, but Christianson died at Froedtert Hospital.
Lang was arrested at his home. where the search warrants says police found a large amount of blood in the bathroom and on Lang’s clothes.
“An unexplainable act of violence ended the life of our son Ben. He was a guy who showed real loyalty to his friends and family,” his family said in a statement to WISN 12 News. “His life was ended way too soon.”
Police have not yet filed formal charges against him, but he was being held on one count of first-degree intentional homicide.
According to a search warrant, a neighbor called police earlier this month after seeing Lang carrying what she thought was a gun, but it turned out to be a knife.
The same neighbor also took photos of other strange behavior, including Lang waving swords around in front of his apartment.
Police said the sword was not used in the attack.
Lang’s sister told investigators her brother “always carries weapons around, mostly knives. He also has swords and a BB gun.”
She went on to say, “He often says that he is going to go out and kill people, as he leaves the house.”
According to the search warrant, Lang’s mother told police after his arrest that her son “had struggled in the past with autism and anger issues… and stopped taking his medication.”
It also said police obtained a Snapchat message Lang sent to a friend last week reading, “I’m trying not to die, I’m trying to smell death.”
Investigators said they collected bloody clothes, several knives, a box cutter, a cellphone and other evidence from Lang’s home.
Police said they’ve had contact with Lang before but he does not have a criminal record.
He’s being held in the Milwaukee County Jail on $200,000 bail.
More at WKOW 27 News