MILWAUKEE — An unborn baby is dead, and six young people are injured after a police chase ended in a construction zone on I-43 Thursday afternoon, according to the Milwaukee Police Department.
Among those injured is an 18-year-old woman, who is in the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police say she was pregnant at the time of the incident, and that the baby did not survive.
A 17-year-old boy is also in the hospital in serious condition.
Four other young people were taken to the hospital for minor injuries, including a 15-year-old girl, a 16-year-old boy, a 17-year-old boy, and an 18-year-old woman.
No other injuries were reported.
Related articles: Series of videos shows police chase that ended on I-43 with at least 1 dead (tmj4.com)
What led up to the chase
According to the Milwaukee Police Department, multiple officers attempted to conduct a felony stop at North 17th & West Vliet Street, at approximately 2:23 pm on Thursday, June 20.
The vehicle stopped was wanted in connection to an attempted armed robbery carjacking that occurred on the 500 block of N. Broadway.
The vehicle was also wanted in connection to an armed robbery carjacking that occurred earlier in the day in the 500 block of N. Jefferson Street, according to police.
Police say the pursuit ended when the driver of the vehicle moved into the construction lane on I-43 near West Vienna Avenue and was blocked by construction and a cement truck.
VIDEO: Squad car chases white SUV in between construction
(Video: State DOT footage via SafetyVid.org)
They say several construction workers were working at the time.
Officers approach the vehicle
According to police, officers approached the vehicle, gave commands to stop the vehicle, and commanded the suspects to get out of the vehicle.
Police say the driver of the car, reversed the vehicle, striking a marked squad car, then drove forward, and reversed the vehicle, while an officer was behind the vehicle at the time.
Another officer discharged his weapon, striking two occupants of the car. A total of six people were in the vehicle at the time.
Witnesses tell TMJ4 they heard at least eight gunshots.
“This is just terrible for the city for our image and everything," a neighbor of the scene, Ron said.
He is glad crime statistics are down. However, he said there is still a lot to do in the city.
“There’s so much going on here in the city of Milwaukee. I mean even we have Former President Trump saying this is a horrible city. It’s almost that the narrative is being proven true," Ron said.
Police say the vehicle was determined to be stolen. They also tell us that a gun was found in the vehicle.
The officer involved in the incident was placed on administrative duty, which is routine in an officer-involved shooting.
All of the occupants were arrested.
Exclusive video from State DOT footage via SafetyVid.org shows a white SUV, the vehicle police were chasing, narrowly squeeze between two vehicles on I-43 before the chase came to an end.
The Milwaukee Area Investigative team is investigating the shooting.
The West Allis Police Department will be the lead law enforcement in the investigation.
Criminal charges will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.
I-43 has since reopened, as of 9:15 p.m.
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