One teen killed, one injured in shooting at Washington Park after Juneteenth Peace Day event

Jane Park and Drake Bentley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Updated ·3 min read
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A 17-year-old Milwaukee boy was shot and killed and another teen was injured Wednesday night in a shooting at Washington Park, where a Juneteenth Peace Day event had just taken place.

The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office said the shooting took place at about 8:53 p.m. in the northeast corner of the park, at 1859 N. 40th St., on the city's west side. The shooting followed a report of 50 young people about to fight near the playground.

MCSO chief deputy Daniel Hughes provided a briefing at the scene late Wednesday night. He said a MCSO detective encountered a suspect indiscriminately firing a fully automatic, or fully automatic converted, weapon from the intersection of North 42nd and West Lloyd streets, toward the playground of the park.

A shooting that killed a 17-year-old boy drew a heavy police presence near Washington Park, at North Sherman Boulevard and West Lloyd Street, in Milwaukee on Wednesday.
A shooting that killed a 17-year-old boy drew a heavy police presence near Washington Park, at North Sherman Boulevard and West Lloyd Street, in Milwaukee on Wednesday.

"The shooter struck a victim multiple times," Hughes said. Life-saving measures were performed but the teen died at a hospital, according to Hughes.

The detective then fired his weapon at the suspected shooter, who then fled, Hughes said. Another detective would later take the suspected shooter into custody at gunpoint.

Hughes said a 15-year-old Milwaukee boy was a walk-in victim at a hospital and is believed to have been shot by the suspected shooter. He's expected to survive.

The detective who fired his weapon has 27 years experience, Hughes said. That detective was placed on administrative leave.

The suspected shooter is a 17-year-old Milwaukee boy.

"Coincidentally, on May 20th, our sheriff's office previously arrested this suspect for a charge of felon in possession of a firearm," Hughes said. The suspected shooter was out on $750 cash bail, he added.

The Sheriff's Office said it will refer charges to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office in the coming days.

The Juneteenth Peace Day event took place at the Washington Park bandshell from 5 to 8:30 p.m. after organizers decided to end the event early. The event was organized by a group, This 4 the City, and was billed as "a day of peace and unity" and a chance "to give Milwaukee youths a safe outlet after this year’s Juneteenth festivities." Several local musicians were scheduled to perform.

"At approximately 8:25 p.m., the T4TC, or This is 4 the City event, hosted by MK Music Agency in celebration of the Juneteenth holiday, was ended early by event organizers," Hughes said. "This was due to unruly attendees and multiple fights involving large groups of unsupervised youth. Attendees started to leave. However, fights continued throughout the exit."

A shooting that killed a 17-year-old boy drew a heavy police presence near Washington Park, at North Sherman Boulevard and West Lloyd Street, in Milwaukee on Wednesday.
A shooting that killed a 17-year-old boy drew a heavy police presence near Washington Park, at North Sherman Boulevard and West Lloyd Street, in Milwaukee on Wednesday.

Hughes said the MCSO recovered five firearms during the event and another three during the homicide investigation.

"'Unfortunate' isn't the right word — it's infuriating," Hughes said. "We have an event that's supposed to celebrate the Juneteenth holiday and it ultimately ends in another young man being killed."

It's the third year in a row that there was gun violence on the Juneteenth holiday. Last year, six teenagers were injured in a mass shooting near the conclusion of the Juneteenth festival on King Drive.

Wednesday's event at the Washington Park bandshell was in-part organized by community activist Vaun Mayes. He said about 3,000 people were at the event, which attracted youth as Milwaukee artists such as 414BIGFrank, JP, Myaa P, MT Twins, StevedaStoner and 414Kennedi performed. The rappers have developed a following on social media locally.

"Summerfest, major events have these same issues and we had way less from support, from staffing, from time putting it together," Mayes said. The organizers met a number of "barriers" from officials when they developed the event, he said.

"Most people don't want to deal with the real issue," he said. "With what's going on with these young people in these incidents.

"Any shooting, especially when somebody dies, is unacceptable to me. And it just continues to show that we did not have complete buy-in or support for this effort. And that's unfortunate."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Juneteenth shooting at Milwaukee's Washington Park kills 17-year-old