City leaders announce 3rd annual Gun Violence Summit will be held in Milwaukee this fall

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — On the heels of a recent string of shootings, including the death of a 13-year-old girl, city officials gathered Thursday to announce the third annual Gun Violence Summit would be held in Milwaukee this fall.

The summit, which is free to attend, covers violence and gun violence prevention and intervention strategies, and also teaches proactive approaches to school safety, domestic violence situations, and suicide prevention.

According to data from the Milwaukee Police Department, while the overall number of shootings is down, the number of homicides is up compared to this same time last year.

"In our communities, we're mourning our sons, our daughters, our students, our neighbors, our parishioners,” said National President Darryl Morin with Forward Latino. “Every loss is not just a person tragedy, but a failure."

Morin was joined by several community leaders, including Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, to speak out against the growing violence.

Milwaukee Police Department Assistant Chief Nicole Waldner echoed Morin’s sentiments, noting that the gun violence is at a level that is “out of control.”

“Where our kids aren’t safe and where our officers aren’t safe,” Asst. Chief Waldner said. "Because whether you live in this city or you don't, there's no way this gun violence doesn't affect you, there's no way you can hear about a 13-year-old being shot and not feel something or that a dad shot a four-year-old."

Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius was emotional when speaking about the children she serves who are impacted every day.

"Let us all be crystal clear. It doesn't have to be this way,” Dr. Cassellius said. "We can’t educate our children when they’re not coming into our classrooms."

Officials said the violence is a public health crisis that needs to be addressed — which starts with educating the community to be responsible firearm owners.

The summit will be held on October 15, 2025, at the Baird Center in downtown Milwaukee.

To register, click here.