Crime & Safety
2 Shot By Milwaukee Police During Cinco De Mayo Celebrations
A teenager and a 22-year-old man both had weapons at the time of the shootings, according to police.
MILWAUKEE, WI — Two people were injured in two separate shootings involving Milwaukee police officers late Friday while authorities were working to disperse a large crowd on the city's south side.
According to Milwaukee police, the first shooting happened around 11 p.m. in the 1200 block of South Cesar Chávez Drive. Police said several officers were working to disperse a crowd "engaged in reckless behavior" when several people fired shots nearby.
During the incident, police said officers encountered a 22-year-old Greenfield man with a gun. After the man ignored several commands to drop the weapon, police said an officer fired his gun and struck the man.
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Police said the officer involved in the shooting was a 33-year-old man and a seven-year veteran of the department. The man was taken to the hospital for treatment. His current condition is unknown.
Around the time of the first shooting, officers encountered a second person with a gun in the same area. According to police, an officer commanded the 17-year-old Milwaukee boy to drop his weapon. When he refused, police said the officer fired his gun several times, striking the teen.
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Police said the officer involved in the second shooting was a 40-year-old man and a seven-year veteran of the department. The teen was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, police said.
TMJ4 reported that both shootings happened during Cinco de Mayo celebrations on the city's south side.
Both officers were placed on administrative duty pending an investigation.
"Firing celebratory gunfire for any event is unacceptable," police said in a statement. "When these incidents occurred, several firearms were discharged in the vicinity, including fully automatic firearms. We are thankful that no other individuals, including our officers, were injured by gunfire."
The Wauwatosa Police Department is leading the investigation into the shootings. Anyone with information about the shootings should contact Wauwatosa police at 414-471-8430.
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