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Family of man shot, killed by police mourn loss of Antwon Springer: 'He followed the order'

Posted at 5:34 PM, Sep 05, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-05 19:14:23-04

The family of the man who was shot and killed by Milwaukee police over the weekend says he was a good man.

The investigation into the shooting near 39th and Congress is under investigation. Officers were responding to a call about a large street fight when they shot 37-year-old Antwon Springer.

Hercules Brown Jr., Springer's uncle, says it was total chaos.

“All I heard was pow, pow, pow, pow and I saw Antwon fall against the door and slid down, and he laid there and hollered, 'help me, help.' It all happened very quick," said Brown Jr.

"This is the worst thing that I could ever think would happen to my family," said Alisa Brown, Springer’s aunt.

Loved ones say Springer was killed after he came outside with a gun trying to stop a commotion outside involving other people.

"It wasn't that he was trying to shoot at anybody, he shot in the air. He wanted it to stop," said Brown Jr.

They say police surrounded Springer after he shot in the air and ordered Springer to drop his hands and put the gun down.

"It should have not happened because he followed the order. He did exactly what they told him to do," said Brown Jr.

That's why they don't think its right that he's not here anymore. They love and miss him so much, saying Springer was a man who loved music and all he did was smile and make people laugh.

Court records show Springer was convicted of a non-violent felony in 1999. As a convicted felon, he wasn't allowed to legally own a weapon. I asked his family about that.

"Where he got the gun, I have no clue. If I had a way to know he had a gun, it would've been taken away because I don't know why he needed one,” said Brown.

His family also says he was legally blind. The two officers involved in the shooting are on paid leave. The Wauwatosa police department is investigating the shooting.