First homicide of 2017: Man pronounced dead at the scene after shooting during altercation at bar



MILWAUKEE -- The first homicide in 2017 in Milwaukee happened about five hours into the new year. It happened at Dee's Elegance Bar & Grill near Fond du Lac and Villard on Sunday, January 1st.

Police said around 5:00 a.m., a 37-year-old man was shot inside the club after an altercation with at least two people. Those two fled after the shooting.

The victim died on scene, despite life-saving efforts of first responders.

Fatal shooting at Dee's Elegance Bar & Grill near Fond du Lac and Villard



You can imagine how terrifying it must have been for those celebrating New Year's Eve in the bar, but in the midst of fear, one man stopped to help -- and he was hurt in the process.

Eugene Dixon



"It plays over and over and over in your mind," Eugene Dixon said.

On busy nights, Dixon helps with security at Dee's Elegance Bar & Grill.

"I got up there to help them out. They`re my friends," Dixon said.

But at the bar early Sunday, a typical New Year's Eve celebration turned tragic.

"People were on the floor. Everybody scattered around trying to get to safety," Dixon said.

Fatal shooting at Dee's Elegance Bar & Grill near Fond du Lac and Villard



Dixon said about 40 people were inside when he heard three gunshots.

"So it was just a natural instinct to make sure we could get enough people to safety as we possibly could," Dixon said.

Eugene Dixon



As he worked to get people out the front door, he was hurt.

"I got my knee jammed on the door trying to make sure I got everybody out the door to safety," Dixon said.

What happened after that, Dixon said he can't shake. He went back inside and tried to help the shooting victim.

"There`s nothing I could do," Dixon said. "It's hard to close your eyes after that."

Fatal shooting at Dee's Elegance Bar & Grill near Fond du Lac and Villard



Police said the search for the suspects in this case is ongoing.

Meanwhile, Dixon said he's helped out at the club for years, and said nothing like this has ever happened there.

Fatal shooting at Dee's Elegance Bar & Grill near Fond du Lac and Villard



By FOX6's count, there were 141 homicides in Milwaukee in 2016. That compares with 145 in 2015.

Fatal shooting at Dee's Elegance Bar & Grill near Fond du Lac and Villard



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