Vigil held for 19-year-old man killed after stolen vehicle runs red light

Updated: 8:15 p.m. August 1, 2019

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A vigil was held Thursday night for Lequan McCoy, the 19-year-old killed as a result of the police chase.

McCoy’s father, Terrell McCoy, said the officers got their man in the chase, but at the cost of his son.

“Stop chasing people that are stealing cars. Let them go,” said Antoinette Broomfield, McCoy’s mother. “A car can be replaced, innocent lives cannot be replaced. My son’s life cannot be replaced.”

McCoy’s nickname was “Scooter”, and he was a high school graduate who held down a job.

“He always loved to crack jokes all the time,” Broomfield said. “He was very funny, and I’m going to miss that about him.”

Broomfield says she hopes the suspect never gets out of jail.

“He has hurt this family today,” she said. “He has hurt me.”

19-year-old McCoy was traveling eastbound through a flashing yellow light on W. Locust St. when the driver of a stolen car disregarded a flashing red light and struck McCoy's vehicle.

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Updated: 4:38 p.m. August 1, 2019

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A 19-year-old Milwaukee man was killed following an early morning police chase -- the second police chase causing injury in just two days.

Police say the chase started around 1:00 a.m. Thursday morning. Officers were pursuing a suspect, also a 19-year-old man, who was driving a stolen car.

Twelve hours later there was still leftover debris from the crash that left one man dead and the suspect with serious injuries.

On Tuesday night, a Milwaukee police officer and two children were also hurt in a crash related to a pursuit.

The Milwaukee Police Association says high-speed chases not only risk the safety of the community, but it's also risking the lives of police, but it's a job that has to be done.

"It's terrible and it's a tragedy, but when you don't chase criminals they simply get emboldened and it results in an uptick in more crime," Milwaukee Police Association President Shawn Lauda said.

Thursday morning's chase started on 64th and Congress. Police say the suspects ignored stoplights and stop signs, almost causing a crash on West Capitol. The victim died on the scene after being treated by responders.

"To tell you the truth, I literally can't describe it. It was, I'm still in shock I think 'cause it was just sad and scary to see all that," a witness tells CBS 58.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says there needs to be a way to catch criminals without hurting those involved in the chase.

"It's also my hope that we can make better use of technology so that we can avoid some of these chases and still apprehend the individuals who are breaking the law and wreaking havoc in some of our neighborhoods," Mayor Barrett said.

People living near 12th and Locust say the roads in their neighborhood are a dangerous place to be, some even calling the area an expressway.

"Slow down, you're gonna get to your destination. If you're speeding through a red light, guess what? It's a red light. Stop," said Mingo Martinez who lives nearby.

"It kind of scares me for the kids that's been out here that be playing every day when they off school for the summertime, so yeah, it's kind of scary being out here sometimes," said neighbor Akeem Harrison.

The suspect was taken to the hospital for treatment of serious injuries but is in police custody.

Police say the case is still under investigation.

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Posted: 4:22 a.m. August 1, 2019

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee Police are investigating a fatal crash near N. 12th St. and W. Locust St. 

According to police, a pursuit was initiated for a reckless stolen vehicle around N. 64th St. and W. Congress St. around 1 a.m. on Thursday. The car disregarded multiple stoplights and stop signs, and nearly caused a crash on W. Capitol Dr. 

The stolen vehicle was traveling southbound on N. 12th St. and disregarded a flashing red light. It struck another vehicle that was traveling eastbound through a flashing yellow on W. Locust St. 

The driver of the stolen car was a 19-year-old Milwaukee man who suffered a serious injury. He was transported to a local hospital and is in custody.

The driver of the vehicle that was struck is a 19-year-old Milwaukee man who suffered life-threatening injuries. Officers and MFD attempted life-saving measures, but the driver passed away on the scene.

The department’s crash reconstruction unit and detectives are completing the investigation.