Fox Point armed robbery ends in suspect being fatally shot, suspect identified
FOX POINT (WITI) -- Fox Point police released new information on Friday afternoon, August 15th related to the fatal shooting that took place at an optical store in Fox Point on Thursday.
According to investigators, just after noon on Thursday, an attempted armed robbery occurred at Innovative Optique on W. Brown Deer Rd. Officers responded to a report of shots fired. When they arrived, officers determined that an attempted robbery had occurred. They found one person dead in the store.
Officials say during the course of the robbery, shots were exchanged between the armed robber and an armed employee of the store. The store employee was not hurt and the robber was fatally wounded.
Joshua Drake
The deceased is 22-year-old Joshua Drake of Milwaukee.
Drake's father, who did not want his face on camera, told FOX6 News Joshua left their home nine months ago because the family didn't like the direction he was heading.
"We couldn't take it no more. His mom's sick, couldn't take it no more," said Drake's father. "I just wish he treated life a whole lot better than he did."
"A lot of men he hung out with looked up to him, like a big brother, with them looking up to him," said Keonia Lidell, Drake's friend. "I hope they know this is a wake up call and they need to get it together."
Those who work at stores in the area knew the optical store owner was concerned about recent robberies and perceived threats to his life.
Officials say witnesses and store employees are cooperating with investigators.
A search warrant was obtained for the business to protect the integrity of the investigation prior to the Wisconsin State Crime Lab collecting evidence at the scene. The Fox Point Police Department is continuing the investigation with the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office.
Once the investigation is complete, the case will be handed over to the Milwaukee County District Attorney for review.