MILWAUKEE – An off-duty Milwaukee police officer and two people attempting to break into a car exchanged shots in the Burnham Park neighborhood early Tuesday morning.
It happened just before 12:45 a.m. The off-duty officer heard glass breaking and went near the corner of 37th Street and Branting Lane to investigate.
Surveillance video showed him posing as a Milwaukee police officer. Neighbors said he lived in the area.
Shortly afterwards, about a dozen shots are heard between the off-duty officer and the two people.
Neighbors also reported that several police patrol cars arrived shortly afterwards.
Watch: Surveillance video from 37th & Branting
Watch: Surveillance video from 37th & Branting
Milwaukee police said the individuals fired first and neither the suspects nor the officer were hit.
After the shots were fired, the two people fled the scene. The surveillance video also shows a car driving away.
One of the unintended targets was the home of Antonio Rivera, which was hit by a ricochet bullet while he was playing video games early in the morning.
Mike Beiermeister
“To be honest, it scares me a little bit because I’ve already noticed the car break-ins and everything else, and now this worries me even more,” Rivera said.
Mike Beiermeister
TMJ4 News found another building across the street that was also hit by a ricochet bullet.
Rivera and other neighbors told TMJ4 News that they have noticed an increase in car break-ins and vandalism in their neighborhood, especially in the last month.
Map with crime data and statistics for Milwaukee: Crime maps and statistics (milwaukee.gov)
Fortunately, no one was injured, but neighbors are nervous about the increase in violence.
Mike Beiermeister
“That shouldn’t give you the right to just shoot around every block and try to almost injure innocent people,” Rivera said.
The resulting car break-ins and violence are part of a problem seen throughout the city.
City Councilwoman JoCasta Zamarippa, who represents the 8th District, urged people to file reports so police know what is going on.
“We need to report every crime,” said Councilwoman Zamarippa. “The police store that data and review it. That helps them know what to focus on.”
Mike Beiermeister
Rivera and his neighbors simply want less crime in their neighborhood and throughout Milwaukee.
Milwaukee police are still searching for the suspects.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7360. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-Tips or P3 Tips.
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