County and city leaders in Milwaukee react to weekend shootings involving teenagers
CBS 58 MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – Two teenagers were shot and one was killed in Milwaukee over the weekend, leaving one victim’s family calling on young people in the city to end gun violence.
According to Milwaukee police, the shooting happened shortly before 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19. Police say the 16-year-old victim, identified by family members as Camron Bowen, died from gunshot wounds at an area hospital. Family members held a vigil Sunday.
“My son was my best friend. He was everything to me. And someone just took him,” said Jennifer Cassidy, Bowen’s mother, at the vigil. “I’m just so numb. I’m hurt. I miss him."
Camron Bowen
Cassidy said Bowen attended Bay View High School. According to Bowen’s mother, the suspect in the shooting had been in a fight with Bowen last week at school. Allegedly, the two ended up on the same bus on Saturday, and when Bowen got off the bus to go home, the suspect shot Bowen seven times.
MPS shared the following statement with CBS 58 about the shooting:
“Any loss of a young person is one too many, and we offer our condolences to the student's family and his school community during this very difficult time. The district is providing resources to support students and staff. The district has a strong partnership with the Milwaukee Police Department and works closely with them on a regular basis.”
On Monday, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley was asked about security on buses given what led up to the shooting.
“I pray for a speedy recovery for that teenager but there’s so much more we have to do as a community to step up,” Crowley said. “We’ve been working extremely hard to make sure we have security on our buses through the pilot program and working with the sheriff’s department as well, but we know that it’s going to come with a greater partnership with the state of Wisconsin.”
“I never want to see anybody get hurt in our city,” Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said. “I have said time and again, with the work that we do, with the budgets that I present and I’m talking to you about right now, I’m making the maximum investment in law enforcement.”
Another 16-year-old was injured in a separate shooting near 67th and Marion around 10 p.m. on Saturday, according to Milwaukee police.
The circumstances leading up to the shootings are under investigation, according to the last update from Milwaukee Police as continue to seek unknown suspect(s). 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.
