“He always had a smile on his face, and never let anything bring him down.”- Amber Schaffer

“Live life like there is no tomorrow”

The quote adorning Bradley Schultz’s Facebook page encapsulates how he lived his life, a fun-loving University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student caught in the middle of a tragic and senseless dispute.

Schultz, 20, was one of six killed in a shooting in Crandon, Wis. last Sunday when Tyler Peterson, an off-duty sheriff’s deputy, went on a rampage during homecoming weekend. A seventh victim is still being hospitalized.

Schultz was a sophomore criminal justice major at UWM, who aspired to either work in forensics or become a detective. He worked part-time at Interstate Electric in Racine to help pay for school.

He was also an avid outdoorsman, according to friends and family. He loved going to races and enjoyed hunting grouse, deer and bears.

“I’ve been bringing him deer hunting since he was twelve,” said Schultz’s cousin Ben Bocek. “He is going to be missed this year.”

Schultz was very family-oriented, frequently visiting his parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in his spare time. Bradley was part of a large family with 13 aunts and uncles and hundreds of cousins.

“He was always there for us. If anyone called him and needed something, he was right there,” said cousin Becca Bocek. “We were all really close.”

Schultz lived in Cudahy, renting an upper-level flat from his cousin. He rarely spent time there however, as he was usually hanging out with friends from the campus area.

No matter how busy Schultz was, or what was going on in his life, he always found time for others.

“Whenever I ran into him on campus, he would give me a big hug and stop to chat. It didn’t matter if he was late to class, he always made time to catch up,” said UWM student and friend Nicole Lipski.

Lipski added that Schultz was “a smooth talker with the ladies,” a fact that many of his friends testified to.

Those close to Bradley also fondly reflected on his sense of humor, and most of all, his smile.

“He always had a smile on his face, and never let anything bring him down,” said Amber Schaffer.

“That is what I will remember most about Bradley, that smile,” added Ben Bocek.

Family members take solace in the fact that Schultz was able to spend his last days with friends.

“At least the last time he went up (to Crandon), he was with his friends,” said Becca Bocek. “That is where he wanted to be.”

A candlelight vigil for Schultz is planned for Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. in Spaights Plaza, with friends and family remembering Bradley.

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