MILWAUKEE — A 66-year-old man was shot and killed by police Tuesday morning near 34th and Wells in Milwaukee, according to MPD Chief Jeffrey Norman.
At a news conference Tuesday, Chief Norman says officers were called to respond to a report of an "active shooter" in the 3300 block of W. Wells St. around 7:30 a.m.
Norman said that officers found the 66-year-old man in the basement of a group home along with other residents of that building.
Watch Chief Norman's news conference below:
According to police, the man pointed a gun at officers, which is when an officer shot and killed the man. He died at the scene.
"There were individuals in close proximity to the man who had fired his weapon in a confined space with others around him," Chief Norman said. "The officers responded in a quick and effective manner in regard to being there to engage in real-time."
The officer who shot the man, a 38-year-old man who has 19 years of service with MPD, will be placed on administrative duty, as is custom.
Norman said another officer, a 40-year-old man with 13 years of service, did not fire a shot at the man.
The Oak Creek Police Department will lead the investigation of this fatal shooting.
The group residence where the shooting happened is called Vets Place Center. It offers transitional housing and resources for veterans struggling with homelessness, mental health challenges, and addiction. The center works closely with the VA and is run by the statewide non-profit organization, Center for Veterans Issues.
"When you come back from service, whether it's right away or 10 to 30 years later, there are always going to be some issues that come back with you, and we are here to help veterans transition," said Jason Johns, who helps lead Center for Veterans Affairs.
"It's a tragic event," he said. "We're all brothers in service, and we hate to see people's demons get the best of them. We're here to try and prevent that from happening."
TMJ4 News talked with some of the veterans who live at Vets Place Center. They didn't know the 66-year-old man personally. They say there's a community room to watch television, as well as a kitchen and laundry room in the basement, where the shooting happened.
This story is developing and will be updated as we learn more.
