Police Shot Man In Struggle On UW-Milwaukee Campus: Report

MILWAUKEE, WI -- Police in Milwaukee say the man they shot during a physical struggle in March on the UW-Milwaukee campus had a machete, hatchet and a stolen gun on him.

Irie Payne, Milwaukee, has been charged with recklessly endangering safety, resisting an officer, bail jumping and carrying a concealed weapon as a result of the incident and his arrest, court documents show.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Milwaukee County, officers responded to the Fine Arts Theater building on the UW-Milwaukee campus on the morning of March 19 on a report of a man sleeping in the basement.

Police say they made contact with the man, later identified as Payne. Officers on the scene noted in their report that Payne had a sheathed machete, a sheathed hatchet, a pack of zip ties, a paintball-style mask and a box of ammunition in his backpack.

According to the complaint, when responding officers asked Payne if he had a weapon on him, he ran away from officers, though police were able to quickly catch up to him.

Police reported that Payne began to struggle with the officers, and during the struggle reached his right hand into his pocket. According to the criminal complaint, Payne took a Smith & Wesson M&P Semi-Automatic Pistol out of his pocket as he was struggling with multiple officers.

According to reports, when one of the officers saw Payne with the firearm, he recognized the threat and fired one shot, striking Payne. Police reported learning that the gun had been reported stolen out of Wauwatosa in Nov. 2018.

Police managed to arrest Payne, but not before officers also had to deploy a stun gun to get him under control.

Both officers were conveyed to Froedtert Hospital; one was diagnosed with a concussion due to the struggle with Payne. Payne was also transported to Froedtert Hospital for medical treatment.

Payne is currently being held on a $7,5000 cash bond in the Milwaukee County Jail. His initial appearance is scheduled for Friday afternoon in the Milwaukee County Jail.