Milwaukee Officer Kills Armed Man At Veterans Housing Facility: Police

MILWAUKEE, WI — Authorities are investigating after a Milwaukee police officer fatally shot an armed man early Tuesday morning, according to law enforcement.

Officers responded shortly after 7:30 a.m. to a report of an active shooter in the 3300 block of West Wells Street, Milwaukee Chief of Police Jeffrey Norman told reporters at a press conference Tuesday streamed by WISN 12 News. Multiple media outlets identified the building as Vets Place Central, a housing facility for veterans.

Police found an armed 66-year-old man in the basement of the building with other residents, according to Norman, who said the gunman had opened fire prior to law enforcement’s arrival and pointed his weapon at the responding officers, leading one of them to shoot the man.

The gunman, who police believe was a resident of Vets Place Central, died at the scene, Norman said. Neither the responding officers nor any of the other residents immediately appeared to be injured, according to Norman.

“It sounded like it was pretty urgent,” Norman said of the incident. “The officers responded in a quick and effective manner in regards to being there to engage in real time.”

The officer who fired the gun, a 38-year-old man with 19 years of experience, was placed on administrative duty as is routine in such situations, Norman said. The Milwaukee Area Investigative Team is conducting a probe of the incident, which is being led by the Oak Creek Police Department. Also present at the time of the shooting was a 40-year-old officer with 13 years of service who did not discharge his weapon, Norman said.

In addition to the officers, a mobile hazardous unit responded to the scene in accordance with protocol, according to Norman.