Shots fired at Milwaukee District 5 police station; suspect is in custody after being chased on North 6th Street

Vanessa Swales, Alison Dirr and Jessica Rodriguez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·2 min read
Shots were fired near the Milwaukee District 5 police station at Locust Street and Vel Phillips Avenue on the the city's north side at roughly 3 p.m. Friday. Investigators are uncertain if there is any connection between the shooting and the death of Keishon D. Thomas, 20, who died in a police holding cell, while in custody at the District 5 station earlier this week.

A 23-year-old Milwaukee man fired multiple shots at police staff in the lobby of Milwaukee's District 5 police station about 3 p.m. Friday, Chief Jeffrey Norman said.

The shooting is the second major incident this week at District 5. On Wednesday, 20-year-old Keishon D. Thomas died in a police holding cell at the station, located at 2920 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave.

Investigators are uncertain if any connection exists between the shooting Friday and Thomas' death. Three officers were suspended following Thomas' death, and the investigation is ongoing, Norman confirmed in a news conference earlier Friday.

"We are still looking into all angles of this," Norman said of the Friday shooting during a press conference at the station.

"Several" members of the community were also present in the lobby at the time of the shooting.

An officer shot back at the man, prompting him to run from the station, Norman said.

Officers chased the suspect on foot to the 2900 block of North Sixth Street, where "multiple" officers shot at him and hit him "multiple" times, Norman said.

He was hospitalized with injuries that are not life-threatening, Norman said.

No officer or civilian was injured during the shooting. The gun was recovered.

Norman said he did not know if the man was known to police before the shooting.

The seven officers involved in the shooting are now on administrative duty, per standard procedure following a police-involved shooting. The West Allis Police Department is leading the investigation as a part of the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team.

The officers involved were:

  • A 41-year-old male officer with over four years of service

  • A 37-year-old male officer with over 14 years of service

  • A 37-year-old male officer with over 10 years of service

  • A 35-year-old male officer with over four years of service

  • A 33-year-old male officer with over seven years of service

  • A 32-year-old male officer with over five years of service, and,

  • A 27-year-old male officer with over nine years of service

More: Community organizations call on FPC for rules on release of videos, information after officer shootings

Contact Vanessa Swales at 414-308-5881 or vswales@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Vanessa_Swales.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Shots fired at Milwaukee District 5 police station; suspect in custody