Unknown suspect pulls out gun at 16-year-old's funeral in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) --In a moment that was supposed to pay tribute and honor a young 16-year-old who passed away, Dr. Wesley Carter, the Pastor at New Restoration Chrisitan Church says chaos broke out.

"We couldn’t even bury our grandson," said Ricardo Smith, the grandfather of Paul Rogers, who was 16 years old when he passed away on September 10, 2025.

Heartbroken and still reeling from the loss of his eldest grandson, Smith says they were in the middle of Rogers' funeral service Thursday afternoon, when a teen who had a gun came in and a fight broke out.

"It's very disturbing, right now family is very upset." said Smith. "It hurts me and we couldn’t have a proper burial for my grandson."

The Milwaukee Police Department says the suspect pulled out a gun and that’s when Pastor Carter says people started running for cover.

"Everyone just kind of ran and everything," said Carter. "There were no gunshots, nobody got hurt, thank God. We didn't expect that, I mean of course you know its God's house, we pray in here and we believe God."

Rogers family left devastated they didn’t get their final goodbyes.

"Take the time to understand what you're doing, because you know we are mourning in here," said Smith. "We are grieving and you come in here and disturb a funeral. That is the most disturbing thing I've ever seen in my life."

Smith says the Roger brought light and joy to everyone around him and deserved a loving goodbye, not violence.

"No one got to go to the cemetery and they just took the body out of here," said Smith. "I never had a chance to see him period.”

Pastor Carter says he grateful no one was hurt, but says the youth violence in the city is getting out of hand and needs to stop.

"I was telling the congregation today that if you live by these guns, you'll die by these guns," said Carter. "You’ve got to put these guns down."

Pastor Carter said the family did not know who the teen who entered with the gun was.

MPD says the suspect took off and continue to look for an unknown suspect.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7242 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-Tips or P3 Tips.