Officer-involved shooting leaves man dead near 34th and Wells in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A 66-year-old Milwaukee man is dead following an officer-involved shooting near 34th and Wells on Tuesday, Dec. 20.

The Milwaukee Police Department says, just after 7:30 a.m., police responded to an active shooter at Vets Place Central, a building that offers transitional housing to homeless veterans. Upon arrival, officers encountered the man armed with a gun in a basement, while other residents were inside the building.

"The suspect pointed his firearm at the officers, and the officers discharged their firearm, subsequently striking the suspect," said Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman.

The suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Ed Garza, president and CEO of the Center for Veterans Issues, released this statement:

“The care and safety of the veteran community, our residents, employees, and neighbors remain a top priority for CVI. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of one of our residents who was killed this morning in a confrontation with the Milwaukee Police Department at one of our veterans housing facilities, Vets Place Central.

Law enforcement officers have secured the facility and the area and CVI is cooperating fully with the police investigation. While we understand the public is looking for additional information, at this time we are expending all our efforts and focus on assuring our residents and staff have the resources they need to manage the trauma over what has occurred. This will take some time and as such, we do not have any further information to provide about the incident.

We are grateful that other residents and staff of the facility who were evacuated during the incident are safe and secure off-site.

We’re working with the Department of Veterans Affairs and their team of grief counselors to provide additional support to our residents and employees following this traumatic event.

Multiple wars and multiple deployments of our service men and women has resulted in an array of difficulties derailing their ability to transition back into civilian life, and CVI is here to address the needs of our veterans, their families and the communities they live in.”

The officer who discharged his weapon, a 38-year-old man with 19 years of service, was placed on administrative duty.

A second officer, a 40-year-old man with over 13 years of service, did not discharge his firearm.

"It sounded like it was a pretty urgent. We have a report being there were individuals who were in close proximity to the individual who had fired his weapon," Chief Norman said. "I will say that this, again, is an active shooter situation that the officers responded in quick and effective manner in regards to being there to engage in real time."

An investigation is ongoing.