MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Police Department said four people, including a seven-year-old boy, were fatally shot in an apparent murder-suicide near 49th and Oklahoma on Wednesday.
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office identified the dead as 7-year-old Kevin James Becker-Wilhelm; 54-year-old female Jeazell Woodruff; 42-year-old Jason Wilhelm; and 49-year-old Fredrick Holmes.
According to Milwaukee police, the suspected shooter, Holmes, lived with Woodruff in the downstairs unit. Wilhelm and Becker-Wilhelm lived in the upstairs unit. Police are still investigating the circumstances leading up to the shooting.
Police say one of the four killed the others and then died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The boy, Woodruff and Holmes were found in a hallway of the home, according to the medical examiner's office. Wilhelm was found in the kitchen."
"This is an extremely tragic and disheartening situation," said Arnitta Holliman, the director of Milwaukee's Office of Violence Prevention Program.
MPD responded to check the welfare of a person around 11:47 a.m. Officers entered the home and found four people dead.
Police say one of the people killed the victims and then died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
"Four people are dead. How are you going to cope from that? I heard yelling, cussing, I heard three gunshots," said one neighbor, Rita Radomski.
"It's disheartening that so much is happening throughout the city and it's just heartbreaking, it's very heartbreaking," said Charlene Radomski.
Carlos Cruz, who lives two doors down from where the shooting took place, said those who lived inside the home typically kept to themselves.
"They were very private like everybody else around here, so yeah it's very shocking. I've been up since like six this morning and I swear I didn't hear anything at all," said Cruz.
Members of Milwaukee's Violence Prevention team were also on scene providing support to those affected by the shooting.
"We provide resources where needed, we want to see what we can do from a therapeutic standpoint," said Derrick Rogers, director of 414 Life.
They say in times like these, it's critical that the community looks out for one another.
"These kinds of situations should never happen and they are always preventable. If we know that people are in a difficult situation, an abusive relationship, to definitely support them and help them find help," said Holliman.
The investigation is active and ongoing.
Autopsies are scheduled for Thursday.
There is no active threat to the public.
If you have any information regarding this incident please call Milwaukee Police at 414-935-7360 or to remain anonymous contact, Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS or P3 tips app.
MCMEO responding to the 3100 blk of S 49 for the preliminary report of multiple homicide victims. @MilwaukeePolice investigating. Autopsies tomorrow.
— Medical Examiner (@mkemedexamine) December 8, 2021
