Be "engaged and enraged:" Flynn, Barrett call on community to combat violence

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- 10-year-old Sierra Guyton continues to recover in the hospital after she was caught in the crossfire while playing on a playground near 28th and Clarke last week. The little girl was just feet from her own home. On Monday, May 26th, as a rally was held near the shooting scene, Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn announced an arrest in the case.

Milwaukee police say one of two individuals they believe to be responsible for this shooting incident was arrested late Sunday night, May 25th.

He is an 18-year-old convicted felon -- whom Chief Flynn says is “part of the 10%.”

Chief Flynn said: “10% of offenders generate half of the crime in Milwaukee.”

This 18-year-old man has been arrested 15 times by the Milwaukee Police Department during his young life.

Chief Flynn says 12 days ago, the man was wounded in a gun battle with another person.

Early this year, the man was in a vehicle that was shot.

Chief Flynn says the man has been arrested for battery, robbery, vehicle theft, trespassing and burglary.

The man was on probation for burglary at the time of the shooting that seriously injured Sierra Guyton.

Both Chief Flynn and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett during a press conference on Monday said the community needs to continue to be "engaged and enraged" -- and it seems members of the community agree.

"We need to put these guns down and arrest these people!" Josephine Boggan said.

Written in chalk on a sidewalk near 28th and Clarke is a child's plea the seems to sum up the feelings of many neighbors in the area: "Stop the hatred."

"I think it`s a shame that these kids can`t live without these guns and people shooting. My nephew MC was gunned down over here," Boggan said.

"I just recently lost my cousin on July 6th, 2013. Her year anniversary is coming up," Quiana Scott said.

Neighbors say the shooting involving 10-year-old Sierra Guyton doesn't surprise them -- but that doesn't mean they're not furious.

"I feel hurt. I feel lost and I`m just so tired of all this senseless killing," Scott said.

On Monday, Chief Flynn and Mayor Barrett called on the community to stay "engaged and enraged" -- and people who live near 28th and Clarke say they already are.

"Our heart is so heavy because we done lost so many people," Scott said.

Lakisha Young says she's relieved to hear an 18-year-old suspect has been arrested. She's watching her children play on the same playground where Guyton was shot.

"We should just let our kids go run and play and shouldn`t worry about nothing happening but these days now you can`t do that," Young said.

Some in the neighborhood are pessimistic that Chief Flynn's call to put the guns down will be heard.

Others hope it's the wake-up call needed to save the lives of children in Milwaukee.

"I`m not saying the police not doing their job -- but the community needs to step in. Start snitching. Do whatever you got to do to report these thugs," Boggan said.