Sandy MaloneMilwaukee, WI – Cell phone video captured the chaos when at least six teenagers were shot on Monday night just as the Juneteenth celebration finished up in Milwaukee (video below).
The incident occurred at about 4:20 p.m. on June 19 outside the Greater Philadelphia Church of God in Christ, ABC News reported.
Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said the shootings may have begun with an argument between a bunch of teenage girls.
Chief Norman said he didn’t know what had started the fight, ABC News reported.
Police said that victims ranged in age from 14 to 19 years old.
A witness told police that two girls were fighting and a teen boy pulled out a gun and started shooting as the crowd scattered.
One of the teens who was shot – a 17 year old – is considered the likely suspect in the shootings, ABC News reported.
Cell phone video captured by a witness showed a boy in a black hoodie and jeans pulling a gun out of his pocket in the melee.
Then gunfire erupted as the person filming the video also took cover.
The injuries to the victims varied but Chief Norman said none of the wounds appeared to be life-threatening.
All of the gunshot victims were transported to the hospital for treatment, reported.
“Milwaukee, what’s going on with our children?” Chief Norman asked at a media briefing.
The police chief said he has attended years of Juneteenth celebrations without the bloody aftermath, ABC News reported.
“Eight years I’ve been part of the Juneteenth celebration… this has never happened before. And I’ve been in this city all my life, this has never happened before,” the chief lamented.
The police chief told parents to get involved in keeping their children safe, KSBY reported.
“Parents, guardians, elders, we need to engage in ensuring that this violence that our children are bringing these streets ceases. No handgun, no weapons of destruction, should be in the hands of our young ones,” he said.
“This is a story that plays out too often, and it’s getting really old. Really old,” Chief Norman told reporters.
The Milwaukee mayor was also furious about the holiday violence, ABC News reported.
“We had thousands and thousands of people here celebrating and bringing themselves together and having a sense of community. That’s a powerful thing. That’s the true story about what this day is,” Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said.
Milwaukee police released a statement on Monday night that said they were seeking additional suspects and asked for help from the community, KSBY reported.
“MPD asks that we all do better at resolving conflict without resorting to gun violence. Parents, guardians, community leaders, neighbors, we all have a role to guide our youth and to speak up if you are aware of illegal firearms. We are always better together,” the statement read.
See the incident unfold in the video below. WARNING – Graphic Content and Obscene Language:
Shooting at a Milwaukee #juneteenth event…
From Fox 6: Shooting at MLK and Chambers that injured six as Milwaukee’s Juneteenth celebration was ending Monday was caught on camera.#milwaukee pic.twitter.com/gUNisKFXNo
— Mrgunsngear (@Mrgunsngear) June 20, 2023
Holly Matkin
