MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee police are investigating a Sunday night shooting that took place in the parking lot of the Midtown Shopping Center.
The shooting happened just before midnight in the 5700 block of W. Capitol Drive. Police said two men were shot and are recovering in the hospital.
Milwaukee Common Council President Cavalier Johnson said during a press briefing Monday that more than 300 bullets were fired during the shooting. He placed the violent spree of gun violence within a list of mass shootings hitting Wisconsin recently: Mayfair Mall, Kenosha, the Roundy's warehouse shootings, Fox River Mall, Molson Coors, and in Brookfield and Oak Creek.
"There just seems to be continued inaction on guns in Wisconsin, and this state, unfortunately, seems to be becoming known for a number of things: beer, cheese and mass shootings," Johnson said.
The frustration goes far beyond community leaders and law enforcement.
Community activist Vaun Mayes said young adults need an outlet to have fun and that specific parking lot at the Midtown Center becomes a hangout spot for them.
"We need to take some better measures to ensure people's safety and try to give them a space to have fun," Mayes said. "It's not a bad thing to have fun, but people should be able to have fun and go home."
He also added that this is not the first time people gathered in that parking lot to listen to music and have fun, and will not be the last.
Community members who live in the area like Zoe Jacober said violence is not uncommon.
"You can't control people. People are going to do what they want," Jacober said.
Her family has installed added security to ensure a stray bullet doesn't come through their front window.
Beyond that, she said there's not a lot more they can do to stay safe.
Common Council President Alderman Cavalier Johnson said Midtown Center management is moving ahead with more permanent barricades in that parking lot to deter people from congregating.
Milwaukee police said they continue to search for unknown suspects.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Milwaukee Police Department at (414) 935-7360 or Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-Tips.
