'Senseless:' Woman, child injured in Wauwatosa home invasion, suspects sought



WAUWATOSA -- Two people, including a child,  were taken to the hospital early Friday morning, July 13 following a home invasion in Wauwatosa.

"That's senseless. She's a baby," Kelly Gerlach said. "She's not doing anything to anybody."

Kat Lazzaro



A nightmare unfolded late Thursday night, July 12 in what neighbors describe as a typically a calm neighborhood.

"It's so scary. You don't think about it in a neighborhood like this," Kat Lazzaro said.

Authorities said around 8:30 p.m., two suspects armed with handguns went inside the duplex near 116th and Watertown Plank Road and used a very aggressive, high level of force against the occupants in an attempt to commit the robbery.

Wauwatosa home invasion investigation near 116th & Watertown Plank Rd.



Four adults and a child were held against their will for an unknown amount of time. Police said they were restrained.

"This residence was specifically targeted for this crime," Captain Brian Zalewski with the Wauwatosa Police Department said.

Captain Brian Zalewski



Police didn't get the call for help until just after midnight.  Authorities found a woman and child struck multiple times with a weapon who needed medical attention.

According to police, the suspects were viciously trying to obtain financial information.

"This was very aggressive. There was a significant level of force," Zalewski said. "They were striking the victims with either weapons or some other object."



Two people, a woman and a child, were transported by ambulance to a local hospital with head injuries. The woman has been released. The child has not been released from the hospital -- but her injuries are believed to be non-life threatening.

Police are still working on suspect descriptions. However, at some point on Thursday, one of the tenants had "strangers" in their unit doing work. The home invasion happened shortly there after.  While the descriptions don't match -- police said it's too much of a coincidence not to pursue.





"Someone thinks they can just come in and take what isn't theirs by force," Gerlach said. "That's awful."

Kelly Gerlach



The crime has unsettled neighbors nearby.

"I hope everyone is OK but especially that little girl," Gerlach said.

Police said they are dealing with a language barrier in this investigation.  They are working on getting a suspect description out there to the community as soon as possible.