Two teens charged after fatal Juneteenth shooting, violence interrupters try to make progress

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- New charges have been filed against two teens involved in a deadly shootout after a Juneteenth concert last week in Washington Park.

It's another violent incident that community activists are trying to curb.

The teens charged are 15 years old and 17 years old. They were firing at each other Wednesday night, June 19.

Another 17-year-old boy was shot and killed.

Violence interrupters say it's too common and was bound to happen.

Brandon Triggs is the director of the organization Helping Kids Better Themselves. He told us, "It's a nonstop issue. It occurs on a daily basis, hourly basis."

And that's why Triggs felt like something was likely to happen at a Juneteenth rap concert no matter the measures in place.

Roughly 50 teens got in a fight in Washington Park. Three started shooting.

Police drone video showed an as-yet-unnamed suspect shoot the victim, who fell to the ground.

A later-identified 15-year-old boy then shot the victim twice while they were on the ground.

The boy is being charged in adult court with first degree reckless homicide as party to a crime. We're not naming him at this time because he is a minor.

Triggs said, "I have a 14-year-old son so it really hits home for me."

17-year-old Onterio Girley is also charged with four felonies.

A police detective at the scene saw him shooting into the crowd with a pistol that had a switch device, essentially turning it into an automatic weapon.

The detective followed Girley into an alley and arrested him.

The 15-year-old suspect was shot by Girley. In the hospital the 15-year-old suspect admitted to shooting the victim even though he'd never seen the victim before and the victim never threatened him that night.

The 15-year-old suspect admitted to police that he stole the gun about a month before the shooting.

Triggs said he thinks adults have to communicate with young people to see what techniques work for them. "We have to find things they're interested in as individuals. As opposed to just trying to lump what we think is good for the youth as a whole."

He added it is hard to stop this kind of violence, but community leaders have to try to achieve small victories.

Triggs said, "You know it's going to be difficult so you just have to keep that mindset of you just have to get up and get it done."

Girley's bond was set at $100,000 when he appeared in court Tuesday. He'll return July 3.

The District Attorney's office says more charges could be filed as they learn more information.