Man dead following altercation with off-duty police officer near 49th and Mill
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- An investigation is underway after a man was shot and killed by an off-duty Milwaukee Police Department officer Thursday morning, Oct. 9.
Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said the off-duty officer was on his way to work and was involved in a minor vehicle accident with another person. An altercation ensued, according to police, and the officer was reportedly hit in the face with a gun by the other driver, resulting in an exchange of gunfire in which the police officer fatally shot the man.
"How does a minor accident change into a deadly force situation? Unacceptable. We have to be better than this," said Chief Norman.
Witnesses saw a very different altercation.
"During the time when the officer, who was off duty, was assessing the situation, he was struck in the mouth, and that's when they had gunfire exchanged between the two of them," said Chief Norman.
The man was killed by the officer's gunfire.
Milwaukee police say the officer was not shot but Chief Norman says the officer was taken to the hospital with injuries to his face.
Family members identified the man killed as 26-year-old Elijah Wilks.
Dozens of Wilks' family and friends gathered at the scene Thursday morning distraught.
"To be honest, the police just don't seem to be people that you can trust," said Asia Wilks, Elijah Wilks' aunt. They're supposed to protect and serve and we don't feel protected."
WIlks' cousin says she spoke to a woman who saw the shooting unfold and did not see Wilks pull out a gun or pistol whip the officer.
"She said, 'But Elijah did not have no gun, he didn't have a phone.' She said he didn't have anything in his hand. She said it was like the man had to finish off a job," said Deneice Kazee, Wilks' cousin.
Wilks' friend says she was on FaceTime with him when the crash happened and heard the gunfire moments later.
"The only other thing I heard was, 'Get on the ground,'" said Wilks' friend, Unique.
"I wanted to know, why'd you kill him? Why'd you shoot him that many times?" said Cardell Bonslater, Wilks' stepfather.
The Milwaukee Police Department wouldn't confirmed who caused the crash.
"We have video. It will be released according to the investigative procedures that we have there, but there is video, very clear video, of this incident," Chief Norman said.
There's no word yet on when that video will be released or where the video came from -- whether it's dash camera, body camera or surveillance.
Chief Norman says the officer, who was in plain clothes at the time, is a 40-year-old man with 21 years of service. The officer will be placed on administrative duty as is routine in officer involved shooting investigations.
The Milwaukee Area Investigative Team will be investigating this incident. The West Allis Police Department is the leading agency.
