Milwaukee police shooting near Cesar Chavez and Scott, 2 wounded
MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee police shot and wounded two people near Cesar Chavez and Scott on the city's south side late on Friday, May 5.
Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said around 11 p.m. Friday, officers were in the area due to large, reckless crowds. Officers were trying to disperse the crowd when several people started firing shots.
Police said officers encountered a Greenfield man, 22, who was firing shots. A male officer, 33, with seven-plus years of service gave several commands to drop the gun before shooting the Greenfield man, who was taken to the hospital. Police said his handgun was recovered.
At roughly the same time, another male officer, 40, with seven-plus years of service, encountered a Milwaukee boy, 17, who was armed. Police said that officer ordered the boy to stop before shooting him. The boy was taken to a hospital for treatment of serious injuries, listed in stable condition. Police said his handgun was recovered.
Both officers were placed on administrative duty.
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The Milwaukee Area Investigative Team is investigating, and the Wauwatosa Police Department is the lead law enforcement agency.
Anyone with information is asked to please contact the Wauwatosa Police Department at 414-471-8430.
There were no other reported injuries.
Milwaukee police shooting, Cesar Chavez and Scott, El Charro Liquor surveillance
Surveillance from El Charro Liquor shows chaos in the street and an officer firing his gun near Cesar Chavez and Scott on Cinco de Mayo. Police said after shots were fired by several in the crowd officers shot two people.
"Firing celebratory gunfire for any event is unacceptable. When these incidents occurred, several firearms were discharged in the vicinity, including fully automatic firearms. We are thankful that no other individuals, including our officers, were injured by gunfire," Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said.
Witnesses say ‘it was ridiculous’
"It was a lot! It was a lot of shooting," said Leony Velazquez.
Moments before the sounds of chaos, the sounds of celebration could be heard.
"There's kids here," said Velazquez. "There's families. It was a family party."
Velazquez said he was at the Cinco de Mayo party, close enough he could hear when the fun stopped nearby.
Milwaukee police shooting, El Charro Liquor surveillance shows shots fired
Surveillance from another angle at El Charro Liquor on Milwaukee's south side shows Cinco de Mayo celebrations devolving into gunfire. The video shows a man firing a gun into the air. Moments later, a police officer is seen shooting at him. MPD said two people were shot by police.
"We were getting ready to leave and be done right when the shootings started happening," said Velazquez.
One surveillance video shows someone in red shooting into the air with people scattering.
"It was ridiculous," said Velazquez.
Another video shows when an officer shot the 17-year-old, family says.
"It was hurtful," said Elijah, 15, who said he is friends with the boy who was shot. "It be like that in Milwaukee. It's the type of city we in. I pray for him, hope he get better."
Velazquez said the violence takes a toll on his neighborhood.
"I live here, and I have four kids," he said. "I don't like it. It makes me feel very angry, sad. I can't even let my kids play outside where we are at right now."
Milwaukee Cinco de Mayo crowds before police shooting, Cesar Chavez and Scott
Video from 414Hypehouse shows crowds in the street on Cinco de Mayo near Cesar Chavez and Scott in Milwaukee. A Greenfield man, 22, and a Milwaukee boy, 17, were shot by police after MPD said several people in the crowd fired shots.
Norman said under the department's new policy, body camera video would be released in 15 days.
2022 Cinco de Mayo celebration spurs reckless driving
In 2022, Cinco de Mayo celebrations also got out of hand in the same exact area as the shootings. Several hundred people were there.
Cars were driven recklessly, doing donuts in the intersection.
When police responded, people jumped on squad cars and threw objects at them.