Good Samaritan shot while helping women being robbed...but his roommate says he'd do it again

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A Good Samaritan is recovering at the hospital after struggling with a gunman on the city's East Side. Police say he came to the aid of two women who were being robbed -- and he ended up shot.

It happened near Lyon and Van Buren just before 3:00 a.m. Sunday, July 6th.

The man's roommate tells FOX6 News despite being shot -- he step in to help others again if he had to.

Police say the incident began during a robbery in the 1500 block of N. Cass Street.

There, police say two suspects took purses from a 30-year-old woman and a 26-year-old woman.

One of the suspects shot the 24-year-old man during the struggle before both suspects fled.

No one has been arrested.

Dane Mantia heard screaming on the street outside his home early Sunday morning.

He and his two roommates ran to help.

When Mantia got there, he says his roommate, who stepped in first, had been shot.

"It definitely took awhile took awhile to process what really happened. I really couldn't think about what was going on at the time -- just trying to comfort my roommate," Mantia said.

Mantia's roommate was shot in the stomach by one of two gunmen trying to take purses from two young women on the street.

Mantia has visited his roommate in the hospital -- where he is recovering.

"I think being able to stand up for what's right -- I think that's very admirable. It's hard when it comes at a large cost, but I'm definitely proud. He's my friend and roommate who would go out and help someone else," Mantia said.

Two women named Ashley and Taylor tell FOX6 News they had a similar encounter the same morning -- with two men who have a similar description as the men accused in the shooting case.

"They just approached us and they were yelling at us at first. We just got upstairs and put the key in the door and they said 'let me come in there with you.' They started getting up close. We had just shut the door on time," the women said.

It is believed the suspects in the robbery/shooting case got away in a white van.

Police are looking for them.