Milwaukee police shooting; man dead after north side chase
MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee police officer shot and killed an allegedly armed man after a chase and crash on the city's north side Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 21.
Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said it started around 1:40 p.m. when officers tried to stop a vehicle that was driving without license plates near 70th and Thurston. The vehicle initially stopped, but then took off as officers approached.
The vehicle was spotted again near 60th and Thurston, and the pursuit began. It ended near 91st and Silver Spring when the fleeing vehicle ran a red light and crashed into another motorist.
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Norman said the man, 31, got out and started running with a gun in his hand. Officers ordered the man to drop the gun, Norman said, and one officer shot the man. He died at the scene, and the gun was recovered.
Asked whether the 31-year-old man pointed the gun at officers, Norman said: "At this time it’s unknown. I know at the time the officer engaged, there was a firearm but at one point and where, how, that’s still part of the investigation."
Milwaukee police scene near 91st and Silver Spring
"My prayer goes out to his family to his kids his wife and whoever else," said area resident Aaron Jones, who said he witnessed the shooting. "I’m speaking out because he was a black man, a young black man, only thing he did was flee."
Norman said no one else was injured as a result of the crash or shooting.
The officer involved was identified as a 43-year-old man with five years of service; he has been placed on administrative duty, which is routine procedure.
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The Milwaukee Area Investigative Team, with Waukesha police as the lead agency, will handle the ongoing investigation.
In a statement, MPD said:
The Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) is aware of videos that are circulating on social media platforms depicting portions of the incident including officers moving the suspect. MPD is conducting a full administrative investigation of this incident. MPD holds its members to the highest level of integrity and if it is determined that any member has violated the code of conduct they will be held accountable. A community briefing discussing this incident will be released in the future.