3 Milwaukee police officers, suspect wounded in shooting, 91st and Custer
MILWAUKEE - Three Milwaukee police officers were shot and wounded near 91st and Custer on Milwaukee's northwest side on Thursday, Sept. 5. A suspect has also been wounded.
Police say it all began around 10:15 a.m. Thursday at an apartment building. The Milwaukee Police Department's (MPD) Special Investigation Division was looking for a 35-year-old man wanted for several crimes including domestic violence related false imprisonment and sexual assault. Police say they tried to get the man to come out of a first-floor apartment when, about an hour later, police say he began shooting at officers.
Officials say four officers fired their weapons back at the suspect – and a standoff ensued. Eventually, the man surrendered.
That man was injured – as well as three officers. All were taken to the hospital and are expected to be OK.
The suspect was wanted for felony firearm possession, domestic violence-related false imprisonment and sexual assault.
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"These officers could have lost their lives today. Unacceptable. This is something of a trauma on their end. And there and but also it's traumatizing to our community because there are individuals in our community who deserve to be able to live safely without worry about firearms, especially in this situation," said Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman.
Milwaukee police shooting press conference
Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson provided more information about a shooting involving Milwaukee police officers and a suspect in an apartment near 91st and Custer on Thursday, Sept. 5. Three officers and the suspect were hurt.
Police presence at 91st and Custer in Milwaukee
It is unclear if there were other people in the apartment building at the time.
The four officers that discharged their duty weapons during this incident are a 39-year-old man with over 16 years of service, a 40-year-old man with over 12 years of service, a 43-year-old man with over 19 years of service and a 49-year-old man with over 19 years of service. The four officers will be placed on administrative duty.
That investigation is being handled by MPD's homicide unit.
Police presence at 91st and Custer in Milwaukee
Body cameras were worn by the officers – and video will be released to the public in the coming days.
Interview with the suspect's roommate
The suspect's roommate, who FOX6 is not identifying due to safety reasons, says he was at work when everything went down.
He said he learned about the shootout from a news article and came home to chaos. He is grateful he wasn't home.
"Everything was everywhere. It looked like a tornado went into my house and tore it up," he said. "Bullet holes. I went into the bathroom, there’s blood on the floor."
He said he was in disbelief this ever happened, but grateful he wasn't home.
"I feel very gracious. I feel very lucky like God was on my side today," he added.