Man Charged After Firing Shots In Police Station: Officials

MILWAUKEE, WI — A Milwaukee man has been charged by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office after police said he fired shots inside a city police district building.

Darren Parker-Bell, 23, was charged with one count of attempted first-degree homicide and seven counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, court records showed. Each charge is a felony.

Parker-Bell is accused of entering Milwaukee Police District 5 near MLK Drive and Locust and opening fire in the lobby at around 3 p.m., Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said at a news conference. The accused shooter left the building and officers shot him multiple times, before arresting him and taking him to a local hospital.

On Friday, Parker-Bell walked inside District 5 and asked the person at the front desk about Keishon Thomas, the criminal complaint said. Thomas was a 20-year-old man who was found dead in a District 5 holding cell Feb. 23.

When the front desk couldn't give any information about Thomas, the complaint said that Parker bell took out a gun and opened fire, hitting the ground, a partition and the counter. Several bystanders and police officers were in the waiting area and took over.

One police officer returned fire and Parker-Bell left the building, the complaint said. Outside, more officers followed him and demanded him to drop the gun.

Multiple officers shot and struck Parker-Bell, Norman said. Nobody was struck by the shots he fired.

Parker-Bell told the West Allis Police Department that he had been a close friend of Thomas and became angry when he couldn't get information about the 20-year-old's death, the complaint said.

RELATED:

• Man Shot At Staff Inside Milwaukee Police District 5: Chief
• 3 Milwaukee Police Officers Suspended After Man's Death