Milwaukee Police are investigating 19 shootings that have occurred between June 22-28. Milwaukee is not alone – gun violence is on the rise in Chicago, Seattle, St. Paul, San Francisco, Toronto and Madison.
One observation is clear – African-American males between the ages of 16-25 are at greater risk of being the victim of a shooting. Often their age, lifestyle choices and geography are all factors in the victimology.
“We are seeing a youthening of both the offender and the victim in these crimes,” Chief Edward A. Flynn said. “We need help from the community to share the message that violence will not be tolerated. And I know those community members are out there.”
Milwaukee Police are hard at work in the city’s most challenged neighborhoods where officers stand shoulder to shoulder with residents to return the public spaces to them. Police interventions in these areas includes targeted patrols, paying attention to those on parole and probation, conducting nuisance abatement, gang enforcement and significant neighborhood engagement. In the photo below, Chief Flynn talks with residents in the area of 39th & Garfield where there have been recent violent incidents that has people living there on edge.
Following are the shooting incidents that occurred between June 22-28. They are listed by date, time (in military time), hundred block where the incident occurred, age and sex of victim and reason if we are able to list it. There is context to all these incidents; in some, the victims are uncooperative, in others, the victim and suspect are known to each other and they are not random acts.
“The law in Wisconsin still makes it far too easy for those who are not adjudicated felons – regardless of criminal history - to possess guns,” Chief Flynn said. “Until the legislature tightens up the law, people will continue shooting each other with impunity.”