Milwaukee man arrested during shots fired investigation near day care given $1,000 bond
MILWAUKEE, WIS (CBS 58) - A Milwaukee man arrested during a shots fired investigation near a day care on the city's north side has a criminal history and remains in custody on a $1,000 bond.
According to Milwaukee police, the incident happened around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12th. The Little Warriors Day Care facility on North 38th and West Brown is now a chilling sight. Several bullet holes can be seen through the front door.
It's a terrifying situation one staff member tells CBS 58 she won't soon forget.
"All fire broke loose. I can recall pulling all my babies out of highchairs getting on the ground scrambling."
Milwaukee police say several shots were fired on that block into an occupied residence. No injuries were reported, but police say a 28-year-old Milwaukee man was arrested during the investigation. He was taken into custody for illegal possession of a firearm and police say charges were referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney for review. Police identified the man arrested that day as 28-year-old Arnold Eugene Branch Junior.
A criminal complaint from the DA's office states Branch Junior was arrested near the day care that day. The criminal complaint also states Branch was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon but did not directly tie him to the day care shooting.
The document also states Branch told officers he and his fiancé were being shot at by neighbors. As Branch showed officers the damage to their Jeep as evidence, officers noticed Branch grab a jacket from the vehicle and start to hold it as if there was something inside. Police then told Branch to put the jacket down and discovered a gun inside of it. He was then detained to complete the investigation.
The complaint then states: "The defendant stated he and his girlfriend had been shot at. After that, the defendant got into the car by himself and began to chase after the guys who shot at them. The defendant stated the gun was already in the car when he got in there. The defendant stated that as he went after the guys, they then began to chase him and he had to shoot the gun to defend himself."
CBS 58 learned that Branch is no stranger to the criminal justice system. A review of his prior record reveals he was convicted in 2012 in Milwaukee County for robbery with use of force, a class E felony. The conviction is of record and unreversed.
His criminal history also includes an array of other charges. Branch remains in custody with a cash bond of $1,000, something that doesn't sit right with victims of recent gun violence. This includes the parent of a four-month-old girl inside the day care at the time of the crime who isn't happy a gun was so close to his child's day care.
"It should be more than 1000 dollars. I'm definitely happy my daughter is okay I don't know what I'd do without her. Just been seeing so many people come in and go in jail and get right back out, so I'm really not surprised."
Staff at the day care agree and are scared.
"I feel more frightened and terrified than ever. I was hoping to get some type of help from the justice system for them to do a bit more in this situation."
The landlord of the day care is currently looking to repair the damages to the facility. The District Attorney's office says they asked the court for a $2,500 cash bail with Justicepoint monitoring and a no weapons order for Branch Junior's arrest on Tuesday. The court imposed a $1,000 cash bail with Justicepoint monitoring and a no weapons order.
When CBS 58 asked police if Branch Junior is considered a suspect in the day care shooting, they said this is an ongoing investigation.
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 App.