MILWAUKEE — Two shootings at two different parks in 30 minutes.
Within a half hour, officials responded on Saturday to two, separate, double shootings at two different parks. Three people were injured and one person died.
The first shooting happened at Butterfly Park near the 3700 block of W. Meinecke Ave. shortly at 5:13 p.m. Saturday.
Milwaukee Police said a 6-year-old child and a 37-year-old were taken to the hospital after being shot. They are both expected to survive.
“I was cleaning up and getting ready when I heard a lot of gunshots ring out in the back, maybe 10,” a neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous, told TMJ4.
Along with children’s bikes lying on the ground, the park was covered in crime scene tape, evidence markers and bullets.
Less than 30 minutes later, at 5:41 p.m. the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) responded to Sherman Park, just one mile away, for a different double shooting.
MCSO said one person died, 65-year-old Gary Grose, and another suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. They believe the shooting may have been retaliation to a fight that happened earlier.
TMJ4 crews saw a nearly identical image there of a playground covered in caution tape.
The shootings do not appear to be connected.
Neighbors near Butterfly Park are worried that there are no safe spaces for their children anymore.
“It’s really scary because there’s a lot of kids in the area and they want to go play in parks. Who would let their kids play here?” Ryan Zydiak, a neighbor said. His daughter goes to school in the area and frequently visits the park during recess.
Amid all the crime scene tape was a sign that said, “End gun violence.”
“I took a picture of that because what an oxymoron to have that sign and then two kids bicycles and a kid that just got shot,” Zydiak said. “It’s horrible.”
Both shootings are under investigation, and Milwaukee Police and the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office are seeking unknown suspects.
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