Canadian man shot and killed during U.S. golf trip

Adrian Ghobrial has more on the death of Giovanni Michael Robinson of Stouffville, Ont., who was tragically killed while on a golfing trip in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin police are investigating after a Canadian man was shot and killed during the early hours of Wednesday.

The victim was Ontario-born Giovanni Michael Robinson, who went by Mike, family told CTV News. He was in Sheboygan Falls near the west coast of Lake Michigan for a golf trip. He was 32.

Local police responded to a 911 call about an individual suffering from a gunshot wound. When officers arrived at a stretch of Munroe Street — a mostly commercial stretch in the centre of the city — they found Robinson. Despite life-saving measures, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say they believe he was shot by someone driving a small, dark-coloured SUV. CTV News reached out to Sheboygan Falls police, who would not confirm specifics of the investigation. No suspects have been apprehended.

Robinson was born in Stouffville, Ont., north of Toronto, but was most recently living in Pennsylvania. He worked with an indoor golfing company and often travelled around the U.S. to play.

Hours before he was shot, he called his brother, Jacob Robinson, from the golf course to share some exciting news.

“He got his first hole in one, on hole 13,” said Jacob in a video interview from Toronto Pearson International Airport. Family members are meeting in Sheboygan Falls to retrieve Mike’s remains.

“That phone call is just playing in my head. It’s one of the last joyous phone calls that I’ll ever get to share with my best friend,” said Jacob. “I just told him how proud I was of him. He FaceTimed his baby, who’s only five weeks old, and shared that moment with her.”

Mike became a father to a baby girl in August. Jacob says he was excited to meet her. Mike was expected to visit in early October for their sister’s wedding. The wedding has been postponed.

CTV News asked Jacob what he will tell Mike’s daughter about who her father was.

“He was going to make sure that you were always going to be taken care of,” he said. “He was already starting to save up for your tuition.”

Residents ‘shocked’

Sheboygan Falls has a population of just over 8,000. Locals who spoke with local media outlet WTMJ called the shooting unbelievable.

“I was pretty shocked. I mean, this is a small little community and we’re all really close,” said resident Jill Schuessler.

“I feel like, if you don’t feel safe here, where are you safe?” said Melody Walls, another resident.

CTV News has also requested details from Global Affairs Canada, which provides emergency consular services. It said it was aware of the death of a Canadian in Wisconsin, but said it could not confirm any additional details due to privacy concerns.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones,” wrote the department in an emailed response.

With files from CTV’s Kristen Yu and Adrian Ghobrial.