The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Smith was subsequently accused of pressuring the victim to recant statements that identified him as the gunman and was charged with trying to intimidate a witness.
Advertisement
At least two people were injured in Milwaukee early Monday amid protests that took place in the wake of the fatal shooting of an armed African-American man, according to local authorities.
About 20 police in riot gear faced a group of more than 100 protesters in a tense standoff that continued into the early morning hours, punctuated by sporadic reports of gunfire. “Burn that s*** down”, Smith said.
For Randy Jones, a community activist in the Milwaukee district of Sherman Park, the rioting that took place in his neighborhood over the weekend was inevitable. “Don’t bring it here”. Police did not say who shot him, but that they are looking for suspects. The officer, who is black, is now on administrative duty pending an investigation by the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation.
Mayor Tom Barrett said the officer who shot the man Saturady was wearing a body camera and footage of the shooting would be released later.
Flynn said Saturday wasn’t the first time the department has used deadly force and the disturbances that followed can’t be pinned exclusively on anger over the shooting.
“He should have been tased, if anything”, Neal said. As they put it, so deep and unchecked were the city’s inequities that the slightest provocation was sufficient to send disgruntled residents over the edge.
At one point, the crowd chanted “ready for war”, followed by a a chant of “peace, peace, peace”. He pointed out that the city saw disruptions on Sunday night, after his race had been publicized, though the intensity was less than the previous night. Milwaukee police have not yet identified the officer who shot Smith but have revealed that the officer is also black. He also said the officer shot Smith in the chest and arm.
Police say Smith had been arrested 13 times before, Chuck Quirmbach of Wisconsin Public Radio reports. One 18-year old male civilian suffered a single gunshot wound to the neck in the course of the protests and police transported him to the hospital where he is still being treated.
Last year, the state Justice Department agreed to review Milwaukee police procedures after a white officer shot Dontre Hamilton, a mentally ill black man, in a downtown park during a scuffle.
Police are pelted with rocks and shots rang out in Milwaukee, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016. The shooting “was like a spark in a powder keg”.
“Do we continue – continue with the inequities, the injustice, the unemployment, the under-education, that creates these byproducts that we see this evening?” he added.
It’s not the first time Clinton has addressed hot-button Milwaukee issues. All of them are from Milwaukee.
As the chaos escalated Saturday, the mayor pleaded with protesters to end their demonstrations.
“They come from homes where mom and dad are on drugs”, she said. There was no evidence that Smith fired his weapon, which was loaded with 23 bullets, the chief said. “I don’t know when it’s going to end”.
Those policies, critics say, have given Wisconsin the worst incarceration rate for African-American men.
The flurry of activity has prompted Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker to activate the National Guard, which will not be used unless authorized by the city’s police chief, Edward Flynn, according to Barrett.
By state law, the Wisconsin Department of Justice will lead the investigation.
“Last night was unlike anything I’ve seen”.
Advertisement
“A young man lost his life yesterday afternoon”.
