'Running away should not cause your death:' Reaction to Mayfair Mall officer-involved shooting
WAUWATOSA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Wauwatosa police officers shot a 17-year-old who they say was armed Sunday night, Feb. 2. The investigation is now being handled by the Milwaukee Police Department.
Cassandra Fontaine-Blake saw squad cars surrounding the Walgreens across from Mayfair Mall Sunday, and two officers talking to a group of teenagers.
"Just from the little bit that I could hear...they were running away from the police."
It was part of the same group mall security called police on after a reported disturbance.
"While officers were responding, at least one witness reported seeing the suspect involved in the disturbance in possession of a handgun," Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Webber said in a Sunday press conference.
Police say when they got to the mall, the group ran away from them.
"During the foot pursuit, the suspect was in possession of a handgun," Webber said.
Police shot the 17-year-old who family has identified to CBS 58 as Alvin Cole. The exact circumstances surrounding the shooting are still unclear. The Milwaukee Police Department is in charge of the investigation and has not yet released video of the incident.
The father of one of the teenagers in the parking lot said his son is still shaken up after watching his 17-year-old friend get shot by police.
Fontaine-Blake says watching the aftermath made her think of her own children.
"It's very upsetting. I mean I only live a block from there, you know, my own son is 25 now but what if that was him or anybody else’s child," Fontaine-Blake said.
Fontaine-Blake said she wishes there could have been a solution without pulling a trigger.
"Running away should not cause your death."
Mayfair Mall said in a statement: "This is a police matter. We are disheartened this terrible incident happened in our parking lot, and we are assisting the Wauwatosa and Milwaukee police departments however we can with this investigation.”
The family of the 17-year-old says they will hold a vigil for him at Mayfair Mall at 8 p.m. Monday night, Feb. 3.