Milwaukee police officers shot and injured a man armed with a modified handgun inside an apartment on the city’s northwest side on June 16.
The shooting occurred around 9:07 p.m. as police responded to multiple reports of an active shooter inside a second-floor apartment on the city’s 6400 block of West Sheridan Avenue, Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said at a press conference. Two officers fired at the 20-year-old, striking and injuring him.
Officers recovered a gun at the scene, Norman said. He described it as an AR-15 rifle, with its barrel cut down. It was easily concealable, he said.
“This is another example of a weapon … in the wrong hands,” Norman said. “Used in a way, the manner, that is absolutely unacceptable within our neighborhoods.”
The incident began as callers reported a shooter in the apartment building who was wearing a black ski mask, blue jacket and black pants.
While searching, officers overheard gunfire and later saw someone who matched the suspect’s description in the apartment’s second-floor stairwell. That’s where the officers fired and struck the 20-year-old, Norman said.
Authorities believe a prior interpersonal conflict may have been a factor in what occurred and officers had previously responded to it, he said.
Both officers – a 25-year-old man with more than two years of service and a 30-year-old man with over eight years of service – will be placed on administrative leave following the shooting, a routine department practice.
Norman lauded the officers’ actions during the press conference.
“Absolutely heroic,” he said. “You are dealing with a situation that could have so many different outcomes.”
Footage of the incident will be released to the public within 15 days.
The June 16 critical incident follows June 12 fatal police shooting in the same part of the city.
David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@usatodayco.com.
This story was updated to add new information.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee police shoot, injure man, after calls of active shooter
Reporting by David Clarey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By David Clarey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
