2 Milwaukee officers shot near 25th and Garfield, suspect identified

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- One officer shot in the ambush near 25th and Garfield has been identified as Officer Kendall Corder, who died from his injuries Sunday, June 29. 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The suspect arrested in connection with the shooting of two MPD officers Thursday, June 26, is 22-year-old Tremaine Jones. 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee police say a suspect has been arrested in connection with the shooting of two MPD officers Thursday night, June 26. 

MPD says officers took the suspect into custody without incident early Friday morning, around 2:15 a.m. 

In a statement, the police department said:

"Thank you to our law enforcement partners who assisted us in taking the suspect into custody. As a stark reminder, the Milwaukee Police Department will not tolerate harm to our community or our officers. Individuals inflicting harm against the public and our officers will be held accountable."

Milwaukee police officers were sent to a call of a subject with weapon around 9 p.m. Thursday. While in route, the call was updated to a shots fired incident. 

As the officers approached, they were reportedly fired upon in an alley near 25th and Garfield. Two officers were shot. 

Both officers have over six years of experience on the job. One officer, a 29-year-old, is in the hospital with non-fatal injuries. The other, a 32-year-old, is said to be hospitalized in critical condition.

The suspect is a 22-year-old man. 

MPD arrest records show he was taken into custody for "homicide att (attempted) x2."

Back in 2021, Jones was arrested for stealing a car, then running from police when they tried to arrest him.

He was granted a deferred prosecution agreement. In addition to paying the car owner $500, he was required to write a letter of apology.

Last September, the suspect wrote, "I can honestly say that I've been trying my hardest to make sure that my life is on the right path."

The suspect wrote that personal struggles are "not an excuse to give up on yourself, or an excuse to make Terrible decisions. Mistakes happen, something that is repeated isn't a mistake though."

He told the victim he lost a brother to gun violence, writing, "my nephews are my motivation to keep doing good so I can be there for them."

But early Friday he was arrested for the shooting, just months after he had written to his car theft victim, "I want you to know that I'm not a criminal or bad person," and "I just want to prove that I'm actually one of the good ones."

The Milwaukee Police Association (MPA) released the following statement Thursday night:

Department of Transportation cameras captured police squads and ambulances heading towards the hospital. CBS 58 reporters on the ground witnessed them arrive at Froedtert Emergency Center. 

MPD held a press conference around 1:20 a.m. Thursday morning, about four hours after the original shots fired call.  

"I know that the men and women of this department, they are going to find you, they are going to arrest you, and you're going to be brought to justice anyway," said Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson. "They will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law."

"The frustration is definitely there," said Milwaukee Police Association President Alexander Ayala. "This is our fourth officer in the last five months that's gotten shot. The violence in Milwaukee has to stop. This is unacceptable. Stop trying to kill my police officers. I'm done. We're over this. Stop killing my police officers, trying to kill them. This is ridiculous."

According to the Milwaukee Police Association, officer staffing is an ongoing issue in the city, and the officers shot Thursday night were working outside of their own district to fill the need.

MPA President Alex Ayala said he feels angry and tired, as four Milwaukee police officers have been shot on duty in five months - three of them in just two weeks.

Ayala believes part the problem is staffing shortages.

He says the Milwaukee Police Department is short 200 officers and 50 detectives, and they can't keep up with crime and gun violence.

Officers were seen combing through the scene next to the alley on 24th Place and Garfield Friday CBS 58

The two officers shot on Thursday were from District 2 on Milwaukee's south side, but they were helping with a call in District 3 due to staffing.

Ayala told CBS 58 it's has been hard to recruit and retain officers, and the ones working are exhausted.

"Get us the staffing that we need, it's critical. If the last two weeks have not shown it, I don't know what else," Ayala said Friday. "The summer hasn't even started. It's going to be a long summer."

He wants a wage increase for officers, calling it the "minimum" that should be done to match their work.

"The police department is doing the most they can with the resources they have. I know it's do more with less, I understand that, but we can't do it anymore," he said.

Right now, though, Ayala's main focus is on the two officers in the hospital.

"Just know that this takes a toll on us," he said. "We still have to get up the next morning, take the next shift, put that badge on, and go out there and patrol the city when you know that your friend just got shot the night before. That's hard."

Ayala said he was able to talk to one of the officers injured Thursday night, and he is in good spirits.

As for the officer who is critically injured, he said the next 24 hours are crucial.

Police say both officers are still being treated for their injuries.

According to MPA, one officer suffered gunshot wounds to his foot and back and underwent surgery to repair his foot. The other got multiple gunshot wounds to his upper arm and at least one to his chest. He went into emergency surgery and is listed in stable but critical condition. 

The Milwaukee Police Association Fallen Heroes Inc. has a donation form asking for support in aiding the injured officers. 

Criminal charges against the suspect will be presented to the district attorney's office in the coming days.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact MPD at (414) 935-7360, or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-TIPS or P3 Tips.