MILWAUKEE — Following a violent night in Milwaukee on Friday, Mayor Cavalier Johnson issued a curfew for people under the age of 21 for the rest of the weekend.
Mayor Johnson made the announcement Saturday during a press conference after at least 20 people were shot during multiple incidents Friday.
The curfew is a part of a limited emergency order from the mayor and will go into effect at 11 p.m. in the entertainment district of the city, bordered by Vel R. Phillips Avenue on the west, N. Broadway on the east, W. McKinley Avenue/ E. Knapp Street on the north and State Street on the south.
Related coverage:
- 17 people injured in mass shooting on N. Water St. Friday night, Milwaukee police say
- MPD: 3 people shot near Deer District after Bucks game, 1 arrested
The curfew will run from 11 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday nights.
"You can be assured that we are moving forward with every reasonable tool that we have," Johnson said.
The shooting during which 17 people were shot came after two other incidents, so there was already a large police presence downtown.
Assistant Chief of Police Nicole Waldner, who joined Johnson at the press conference, said District 1 officers reported hearing bullets whiz past their heads.
"I think it goes further than respect for law enforcement. I think it goes to respect for human life," said Waldner. "Despite if the police were there or not, what makes people think that they can just have a shootout on a public street in our entertainment district?”
In a press release following the conference, MPD said those exempt from the curfew are individuals who are going to work, government officials, social service workers, and credentialed members of the press acting in their official capacity.
Those who don't follow the curfew will be arrested and fined of $691, according to police.
On Friday night, despite the shootings, many young teens walked around the neighborhood after the game. The youngest we spoke to was just 13 years old.
An adult woman who had been to the Bucks game told us the shooting near Water and Juneau was "horrifying." And, she said, she was thinking about all the "kids" she had seen outside in the midst of the violence.
Mayor Johnson said there will be additional police in the area, and said should additional resources be necessary, the city is ready to issue them.
During the press conference, Milwaukee police also shared details on a third shooting incident, which brings the number of shooting victims to 21.
That incident happened at 1102 N. Water Street at 10:30 p.m. One person was injured.
Watch the full press conference below:
This is a developing story. TMJ4 will update this article as we learn more details.
