Downtown restaurant to reopen after shooting leaves employee, customer injured

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A downtown Milwaukee restaurant is set to reopen after a shooting injured a server and a customer.

Elsa's On the Park has its front door boarded with wood after multiple shots shattered its glass on Wednesday night.

"My initial reaction was worried that anybody, or potentially somebody I knew, or one of the staff members that I've gotten to know was injured," East Town Association Executive Director Eddie Sturkey, who works next door, said.

District 4 Alderman Bob Bauman tells CBS 58 that a restaurant employee was caught in the crossfire aimed at a patron.

"A customer was ordering carryout, and he was standing at the bar and picked up his order, and as he was leaving the establishment, he was shot by at least two individuals, who were right outside the front door," Bauman said. "The server was just collateral damage."

Both Bauman and Mayor Cavalier Johnson called for gun reform to reduce incidents like this.

"That's why we need to work with our partners, at the state level, who control gun laws, to make sure people who shouldn't have guns don't get their hands on guns in the first place," Johnson said.

With plans to reopen on Friday, Elsa's is not letting this shooting stop them from serving the community the same way they have for decades.

"If anything, I'll be more likely to come back when it opens it up because I feel people are less likely to come, so I want to support the local business while they're here," area resident Benjamin Selje said.

Milwaukee police continue to conduct follow-ups and gather evidence in this ongoing investigation. Suspect(s) are still unknown at this time.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee police at (414) 935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (414)224-Tips/ or P3 Tips.