After Police Shoot Armed Suspect, Riots, Arsons Erupt in Milwaukee

Protestors shouted “black power.”

8.15.2016
News
Sarah Fisher
  

After law enforcement officers shot and killed 23-year-old Sylville Smith on Saturday afternoon in Milwaukee,Wisconsin, the city erupted in violence and arson.

Smith was previously charged in a shooting last year, although charges were dropped against him. He was also charged for witness intimidation in that same shooting incident.

The police released the following statement following the shooting:

A Milwaukee Police officer shot and killed an armed suspect fleeing from a car on Milwaukee’s North Side. The incident began when two uniformed MPD officers stopped two suspects in a car in the 3200 block of N. 44th Street at about 3:30 p.m. on August 13. Shortly after stopping the suspects, both occupants fled from the car on foot. The officers pursued the suspects, and during the foot pursuit one officer shot one suspect, armed with a semiautomatic handgun, in a yard also in the 3200 block of N. 44th Street. The suspect died from his injuries at the scene.

Law enforcement further explained that the officer who was involved with the shooting ordered the suspect to drop his weapon. When the suspect did not obey the order, the officer fired on the suspect, hitting him twice.

The suspect was armed with a handgun that was stolen in a burglary last March. The gun was recovered along with 23 rounds of ammunition.

Protestors quickly filled the streets and police reported between 500 and 800 people gathered after troublemakers used Facebook to get the word out about the riots.

Then, the scene quickly became violent and chaotic: Protesters set four businesses and several police cars on fire, hurled bricks through police car windows, threw rocks at police and vandalized bus shelters and street lights. Some social media users posted videos of what appeared to be individuals looting a small grocery store.

One officer was hospitalized at the scene after being hit in the head with brick that crashed through his police car.

Social media users reported a beauty shop, auto supply store and gas station were set on fire by protestors.

A video posted on Twitter showed the crowd chanting “black power” as a gas station burned.

Another twitter user posted a video of the crowd yelling “they white, get ‘em.”

The police released a statement that the officer involved in the shooting "will be placed on administrative duty during the investigation and subsequent review by the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office."

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