Vigil held for shooting victim as groups call for end to violence



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Friends and family held a vigil for 18-year-old Xavier Melgoza on Thursday night, August 8th, on the corner of 9th Pl. and Hayes, near where Melgoza was shot just two days earlier.

Melgoza was a witness to a theft at Salas Grocery, where he used to work, on Tuesday, August 6th. Surveillance cameras show two male suspects entering the store and stealing two 24-packs of beer.

When the suspects fled the area in a vehicle, Melgoza followed them in his car. One of the men allegedly fired shots at Melgoza, who was hit, lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a tree.

Family friends say Melgoza slipped into a coma before eventually passing away from his injuries on Wednesday, August 7th.

The incident resulted in the fourth homicide, and 21st shooting, in Milwaukee in less than a week. City officials are pledging $500,000 in police overtime.

Dr. Kenneth Harris, head of community group 100 Black Men of Greater Milwaukee, tutors at risk children beginning in the 5th grade and says the recent violence should be a call to action.

"Sometimes it may take some citizens to stand up and make those phone calls and assist the police in what it is they are doing and make the neighborhood safer," said Harris. "I think if each man would take one member of the community and just be there and represent, we could literally double the number of children in college."

No one has been taken into custody in this case.

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