Engen sentenced to 18 years for 2016 shooting death

By Brandi Makuski

The man convicted of killing a Racine native near UWSP in 2016 was sentenced on Thursday to 18 years in prison.

Engen, 32 of Marshall, Wis., was convicted of killing 21-year-old Deonta Lezine, a former UWSP student, on the corner of Fifth and Minnesota avenues on St. Patrick’s Day two years ago.

Engen had been behind bars on a $100,000 cash bond after being arrested in Colorado and transported by U.S. Marshals back to Wisconsin two years ago. Engen eluded authorities for more than a month following the shooting, which occurred during a drug deal gone bad near the UW-Stevens Point campus.

Lezine spent several days on life support before succumbing to his wounds on March 25, 2016.

During his trial in March, Engen argued he shot Lezine in self-defense. The jury was not persuaded, returning with their decision in just under three hours on March 2.

Judge Thomas Flugar also imposed 10 years of extended supervision for Engen, which he will serve following his prison sentence.