12 killed in 12 days: Milwaukee leaders taking action to stop violence
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- After a violent start to August, community members and leaders are now taking action to stop the violence.
The Director of Violence Prevention, Reggie Moore said the last two weeks have been the most violent weeks Milwaukee has seen this year. Over the past 12 days, 12 people have been shot and killed, several others injured.
“The devaluation of black life in this city is outrageous,” Alderwoman Milele Coggs, who represents the 6th District of Milwaukee said at a press conference Monday.
Milwaukee County Sheriff Richard Schmidt said that the Sheriff’s Office will be partnering with the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) to increase patrols in high crime areas. Ten highly-skilled tactical deputies will be increasing their patrols in high crime areas.
“We’ll be in the streets,” Sheriff Schmidt said. “We’ll be looking for indicators of things that are going wrong.”
Sheriff Schmidt said they will also be going after people with violent felony warrants. This effort comes after a Sunday night triple shooting killed a 28-year-old man and injured a 4-year old boy and a 14-year old. It happened near 10th and Burleigh.
Sheriff Schmidt said many of the people getting shot are teens and people in their young 20’s.
“When we see this horrific surge taking place and children and young people being shot and dying on our streets, we’ve got to get a broken heart over this,” Sheriff Schmidt said.
Monday, the Westcare Wisconsin Youth Action Council returned to Sunday’s crime scene and handed out gun locks and backpacks to people who live nearby.