Roll of Honor
Jay P. Balchunas
Incident
Special Agent Jay Balchunas succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained one week earlier when 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. They 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.
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.
Survivors
He is survived by his fiancée, parents, sister and brother-in-law, brother, and nephews.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WI-B9FFD21A- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Agent Balchunas gave the Wisconsin Department of Justice 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Madison community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Balchunas.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent Jay P. Balchunas is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In WI, 159 of 317 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50.2% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jay P. Balchunas's cause is highlighted.
How Jay P. Balchunas Compares
Offender Outcome
Life in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jay P. Balchunas is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jay P. Balchunas was killed by gun; unknown type.