9-year-old girl fatally shot near 38th and Ruby; parents being questioned
9-year-old girl fatally shot near 38th and Ruby
MILWAUKEE -- A community wants answers after a 9-year-old girl was fatally shot on the city's north side. It happened just after noon on Saturday, March 10.
Police say the child was shot inside a home near 38th and Ruby, then rushed to the hospital where she died. For nearly five hours Saturday afternoon, Milwaukee police blocked off the home to collect evidence.
"It was devastating because I have an 8-year-old nephew," said Darnell Bryce, who lives nearby.
Neighbor Darnell Bryce says, he was home all day but never heard gunshots.
9-year-old girl fatally shot near 38th and Ruby
"I just heard, I heard a lot of police pulling up," said Bryce.
Bryce and others didn't know the family well. He says they moved in within the past year and kids would often play outside. Police have since taken the parents in for questioning about the incident.
9-year-old girl fatally shot near 38th and Ruby
"I can't, I can't even imagine," said Bryce.
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office says the victim is the first child killed as a result of gunfire this year.
9-year-old girl fatally shot near 38th and Ruby
9-year-old girl fatally shot near 38th and Ruby
"This is horrible. Horrible," said King Rick with the Milwaukee Black Panthers.
King Rick, with the Original Black Panthers, also arrived on scene to get answers as officers continue to investigate what led up to the shooting.
"This is a young lady who has died due to gun violence. There's too many guns in our community. There's too much violence in our community," King Rick said.
King Rick
In the wake of tragedy, the community activist group urges residents to come together to better protect the city's young people.
"We're angry and we're upset. This is intolerable," said King Rick.
The medical examiner's office says last year, six children were fatally shot in Milwaukee County: five teenagers and one 6-year-old. Those were all considered homicides.
Police have not said yet whether the shooting was accidental, intentional, or self-inflicted.
9-year-old girl fatally shot near 38th and Ruby