One man was shot in the neck in what officials called a life-threatening injury, while at least one police officer was taken to the hospital.
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Following a night of violence that left half a dozen businesses in flames, the Milwaukee police chief expressed surprise at the level of unrest that erupted after the fatal shooting of a black man by a black officer. According to the Tribune, several posts included threats, as well as a photo of the officer.
“MPD has noted a disturbing national trend where users of social media have identified officers involved in uses of deadly force, threatened the officers and their families, and demonized them”, the police department said in a statement Tuesday. A spokesman for the department did not confirm the identify of the individual being circulated online.
Milwaukee police are aware of threats on social media, against both the officer and police in general, Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn said Sunday.
Police have said Smith was turning towards the officer with a gun in his hand at the time of the shooting. The state is investigating.
About two dozen officers in riot gear confronted protesters who were throwing rocks and other objects at police near where Sylville Smith was killed Saturday.
Sylville Smith was shot Saturday afternoon by a black police officer, and violence broke out on the city’s largely black north side.
A dozen protesters left the Sherman Park neighborhood by vehicle for a shopping center parking lot later Monday night, but were dispersed by police.
Monday was calm, though 10 people were arrested and there were no reports of protesters on Tuesday.
Asked at the news conference why officers had stopped the auto on Saturday, Police Chief Edward Flynn said the officers had not been interviewed yet and that they would be interviewed later on Monday.
It was “an error in narrative to assume” that because police shot someone, the shooting is controversial, “so let’s have a riot”, Flynn said. The officer, who was wearing a body camera, fired, striking Smith in the chest and arm.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced Monday that the 10 p.m. weekday teen curfew would be strictly enforced in the city.
Flynn activated the department’s 150-member crowd-control team on Sunday night, and Gov. Scott Walker put the National Guard on standby.
Milwaukee’s mayor and police chief say outsiders are fomenting the unrest that has wreaked havoc in a north side neighborhood for two nights since a black man was fatally shot by a black officer. Only one shot was sacked overnight, far less than the previous two nights. Police reported four officers were injured and police cars were damaged before calm was restored.
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Around 10:30 p.m., however, a group of perhaps 100 demonstrators began marching through the streets, eventually blocking an intersection next to a BP gas station that burned down the night before. He pointed out that the city saw disruptions on Sunday night, after his race had been publicized, though less intense than the previous night.
