Police investigating series of violent Thanksgiving weekend incidents

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee police are investigating a rash of violent incidents that occurred over Thanksgiving weekend. Since November 21st, there have been seven shootings and a stabbing. The violence left four people dead and five others injured.

The first incident occurred on Wednesday, November 21st at 6:40 p.m. Police say 25-year-old Andrew Brown was fatally stabbed at a home in the 2900 block of W. Vliet Street during a family argument. A 15-year-old relative of Brown's was taken into custody.

18-year-old Clemon Ferguson Jr. was shot during an armed robbery at "Hair Fantasies" barbershop on November 21st, at 11:45 p.m. near the 25-- block of N. MLK Drive. Police say this death was ruled self-defense by the District Attorney's Office and is not counted as a homicide. Ferguson was shot by a 26-year-old customer as Ferguson and another armed man were committing a robbery at the business. The second armed robbery suspect, age 21, is  in custody and is facing charges of felony murder.

34-year-old Jessie Brown was shot early Wednesday morning, November 22nd at what police call a suspected drug house in the 2100 block of S. 14th St. in what appears to be a drug-related robbery. Police are investigating a number of leads in this case. No one is in custody at this time.

Neighbors told FOX6 News they noticed a lot of traffic at the house.

"Honestly, we figured there was going to be something going to happen because there always people coming in and out, but we never figured it would be like death," 

17-year-old Leandro Marin was shot by his friend on Friday, November 23rd just before midnight inside a car in the 1800 block of S. 32nd St. Marin was inside a vehicle with the suspect when he fired a gun outside the vehicle and then accidentally shot his friend inside the vehicle. An 18-year-old is in custody. The suspect is facing charges of reckless homicide and endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon.

The first officer-involved shooting incident occurred Saturday afternoon (November 24th) just after 4:00 p.m. in the 3800 block of S. 1st Street. 28-year-old Daniel Kleinmann was shot after he was alleged to have committed an armed robbery earlier at 17th and Layton. 

Police say Kleinmann had met a man he knows in the area of 17th and Layton to sell him car parts. According to the victim, Kleinmann robbed the man who came to meet him, then drove away, crashing his car at 3rd & Tripoli.

Police Officer Shawn Pecoraro responded to the area when he heard the report of an armed robbery over the police radio. Multiple citizen witnesses flagged down the officer and directed him toward where the robbery suspect had fled. Officer Pecoraro was in uniform in a marked squad.

When the officer encountered Kleinmann, the actions of the suspect led the officer to reasonably believe that his life was in danger and he discharged his weapon. Kleinmann, of Germantown, is a convicted felon was was wanted for escape. A gun has not been recovered at this time.

Officer Pecoraro is 39 years old and has 15 years of service on the Milwaukee Police Department. As is procedure, he was placed on administrative duty as the Milwaukee Police Department and the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office reviews the incident.

The second officer-involved shooting incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, November 25th just after 2:00 p.m. Milwaukee Police received multiple citizen calls reporting there was a man with a gun in the area of 14th & Center. As a marked squad searched the area for suspects, officers spotted a group of people at 17th & Locust, one of whom fit the description of the suspect with the gun. Police say the suspect ran when they saw the police.

Officer Joseph Warren, who was in uniform, got out of the squad and ran after the suspect described as having the gun. When Officer Warren caught up to the suspect, the suspect raised a gun at the officer. Fearing for his life and the lives of others in the area, Officer Warren discharged his weapon. No one was struck. 

The weapon, a toy gun, was recovered at the scene. The 14-year-old suspect was arrested. He has a previous arrest for robbery from earlier this year.

Officer Warren remains on full duty. He is 37 years old with 14 years of service at MPD. He is assigned to the Neighborhood Policing Bureau.

There were another three non-fatal shootings Wednesday night, and one more Saturday. Police are also investigating a shooting near 36th and Hopkins Sunday, November 25th.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this story.