1 killed, 5-year-old wounded in shooting near Mitchell Park

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- One man died, and a child was hurt in a shooting on Thursday, Oct. 19 near a popular south side gathering place.

A CBS 58 crew was preparing to give a live report ahead of a meeting at the Mitchell Park Domes around 4:30 when they heard a gunman fire about eight shots, then four or five more after a brief pause.

A silver SUV then sped away north on S. Layton Blvd.

Multiple witnesses reported seeing a gunman in one SUV fire shots into another SUV that was stopped at the intersection of S. Layton Blvd. and W. Pierce St.

Afterward, a man was unresponsive on the ground outside the driver's side door while others rushed to start treating a young child on the sidewalk.

In a release Thursday evening, Milwaukee police said a 30-year-old died at the scene of the shooting while a 7-year-old suffered what police described as "non-fatal" injuries. Police now say the child injured is 5 years old. 

Xiomarie Vargas said she was about three of four cars behind the victims at the stoplight.

"All I heard was a bunch of cars beeping, everyone getting out of their cars," Vargas said. "I didn't even hear the shots. That's the crazy part. I didn't hear the shots."

Vargas said she then got out of her car to see what was going on and came upon a chaotic scene. The CBS 58 crew saw onlookers either trying to help the victims, direct traffic, or stand in awe, with some recording video on their cellphones.

"I'm just in disbelief. I see a kid shot. I see the guy shot," Vargas said before pausing. "I was in shock."

While police did not immediately offer more details about the child victim's injuries, the news crew on scene saw paramedics treating the child's head and face.

Video provided by Vargas showed the same thing. The young victim appeared to be conscious and alert while being placed into an ambulance.

Vargas said she later learned she had a connection to the shooting, aside from being a witness.

"I have family who, [the victim is] their family," she said. "So, it's just crazy to think it just keeps hitting closer and closer to home."

By about 7:30 Thursday night, police had taken down the yellow tape and all squad cars left the scene. Anyone just arriving in the area would have no idea a fatal shooting had happened just three hours earlier.

However, for the witnesses who were there, and for one young child, what they saw will stick with them forever. Vargas said she couldn't get past the senselessness of it.

"We all have kids. We all have parents and siblings we would like to come home to," she said. "I feel like it's never that deep that you have to take somebody's life."