Milwaukee police: 10-year-old girl "caught in the crossfire" & shot on playground



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee police say an 10-year-old girl was shot while on a playground on Wednesday evening, May 21st -- near N. 28th Street and Clarke Street in Milwaukee.

The shooting happened around 7:15 p.m. -- on the playground of the Clarke Street School.

Police say their preliminary investigation indicates two individuals were shooting at each other, when the child was caught in the crossfire -- and shot.

Neighbors say because of the nice weather -- there were a lot of kids out on the playground at the time of the shooting.

Neighbors report hearing anywhere from 10 to 15 gunshots fired.

The 10-year-old girl was taken to Children's Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

A Milwaukee police source tells FOX6 News the child was shot in the head.

FOX6 News spoke with a woman who says she's the young girl's aunt. That woman told FOX6 News the girl was shot in the head, the leg, and the knee -- and was in surgery Wednesday night at Children's.

No one is in custody.

"Tonight, two so-called young men felt the need to engage in a shootout without any regard for the lives of children playing nearby," Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn said at the scene on Wednesday evening.

"Sooner or later people enough gotta be enough! It`s not enough to complain about our tactics. It`s not enough to tell us we`re putting too many people in jail. We need you -- the community, to help us solve this crime and to tell your young men to put the guns down!" Chief Flynn said.

Chief Flynn says Wednesday evening's shooting is a case of a child caught in the crossfire -- but he says the bigger issue is the chronic gun violence in the city of Milwaukee.

"I need the same Governor and the same state Legislature that found money to help us expand our ShotSpotter, the ShotSpotter that directed us to this location -- to pass a law that makes these little monsters afraid to get locked up for possessing a gun. I need felony time for a felony crime of illegally carrying a firearm," Chief Flynn said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact (414) 935-7360.

Mayor Barrett issued the following statement on this shooting:

“The thugs who thought nothing of having a gunfight on a playground need to be locked up for a very, very long time. Right now these gunslingers believe that there are no consequences to walking the streets armed and shooting whenever the mood strikes them. It’s time for the  Governor and Legislature to go into special session and pass mandatory minimum sentences for gun crimes and to come down hard on those who value life so little.”

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