MPD: Man shot and killed while trying to prevent neighbor's domestic violence situation

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A domestic violence incident turned deadly Christmas Eve after a neighbor trying to help was shot to death.
Police have not arrested a suspect yet.

Police said the shooting happened around 10 o'clock Christmas Eve at the Riverwood Apartments on Singer Circle.
A 48-year-old man trying to help is dead.
Milwaukee's Office of Violence Prevention said the man was attempting to do the right thing.

"We don't want people to turn a blind eye, but we also don't want people to put themselves in harms way either," said Director Reggie Moore.

Moore said people should call 911 first to help break up a domestic violence situation, and then enlist other neighbors to help.

“Perhaps try to get other neighbors, knock on other doors and see if someone else is hearing what’s happening, if 911 has already been called, but definitely sort of strength in numbers,” said Moore.

Police said a 48-year-old man trying to prevent a domestic violence situation at a neighbors apartment was shot by the suspect. He died at the scene.

"It's usually peaceful and stuff, it's not too bad," said neighbor Lynonia Johnson.

Johnson has lived here for ten years. She was stunned when she saw the shooting on the news.

"I know things do happen, it happens all over, not much you can do about it, just pray and stuff like that,” said Johnson.

Another neighbor who asked not to be identified saw the police Christmas Eve, but didn't know they were investigating a homicide.

"I was shocked, my wife is not going to believe me," said the man.

He hears fights often and worries for his family's safety.

"Imagine if somebody would have shot through the window, we were just in the living room watching t.v.," said the man.

Moore said people need to stay safe, but they shouldn't ignore what's going on around them.

"We've seen an increase in domestic violence incidents since last year, and we know that a lot of them are exacerbated by the pandemic, but at the end of the day, they started increasing in 2019," said Moore.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7360 or Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-TIPS or P3 Tips App.