MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Chief of Police Jeffrey Norman, County Sheriff Denita Ball, Office of Violence Prevention Director Ashanti Hamilton, and others addressed the rising teen violence in recent weeks in the area, including the shooting of a 16-year-old boy at a crowded Sherman Park.
"No child should be carrying a firearm," said Chief Norman during a press conference on Friday. "Do you understand where your children are at? What are you doing? How are you a part of the change?"
Law enforcement leaders stressed that they alone can't stop the violence. And there was a common theme among speakers on Friday — one of parental responsibility.
"We need parents to be in the park, too. To know what their kids are doing. We are asking, pleading that the parents be engaged with your children. We don't want to wait until something happens and then you're grieving and regretting your actions," said Sheriff Ball.
According to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, calls for serious/violent activity at the park have increased from five in July 2022, to 39 so far this July.
When it comes to juveniles, specifically, city-wide Milwaukee Police data shows both homicides and non-fatal shootings are up from last year. Juvenile non-fatal shootings — from the first of the year through July 27 — rose from 62 in 2022 to 82 this year, according to data. Homicides rose from 12 to 13 during the same period.
Sherman Park, at the corner of N. Sherman Blvd and W. Burleigh St., is surrounded by residential neighborhoods. On Friday, Tarteesha Wallace was walking in the park with her family and dog. She said they keep those walks to daylight hours.
"I try to come early to try and avoid all the kids and chaos and stuff. [At night] I try to stay in my yard, because it be a lot of shooting, chaos going on around here," said Wallace.
District 7 County Supervisor Felesia Martin, who grew up and lives in the Sherman Park neighborhood, said she doesn't want the community to be afraid of their green spaces.
"Courage. I'm asking all residents, regardless of what neighborhood you live in, take courage and take back your parks," said Martin. "Truly there is strength in numbers. What I'm asking is not an easy thing. Courage, you have to be bold."
She said she'd like people to spend time in the parks, whether that's coming out and having conversations or walking their pets.
Kathy Thornton-Bias, the CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee, said parents should consider sending their kids to Boys & Girls Club or other groups like Running Rebels, COA Youth and Family Centers, or the YMCA.
"Where they are is not working. Where you have left them, where they decided to go, where they choose to go is not working," said Thornton-Bias.
Watch what leaders had to say in the video at the top of this article. They describe today as a crisis moment in the community; a tinderbox waiting for a spark.
WATCH I-TEAM's REPORTING: Black children being murdered at higher rates in City of Milwaukee
16-year-old shot in crowded Sherman Park
As TMJ4 News reported, a 16-year-old boy was shot and injured Tuesday night in a crowded Sherman Park in Milwaukee.
The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) confirmed the boy suffered at least one gunshot wound around 9 p.m. MCSO says there were 50-100 teenagers gathered at the park when an argument began and fists were flying. It came to an end with gunfire and a 16-year-old shot in the back.
The teen is recovering now at Children's Hospital. He is the 82nd victim under 18 to survive being shot in Milwaukee this year alone.
The boy was also the second teenager that was shot in the city Tuesday evening. Around 5:30 p.m., a 16-year-old boy was killed near 33rd and Center. In the city at large, shootings are up compared to the last three years with 95 shootings (deadly and non-fatal) so far this year.
Black children being murdered at higher rates in Milwaukee
As TMJ4 News reported, since 2020, the number of kids under 18 years old being shot or killed is skyrocketing.
Through July 25, 14 kids have been killed in Milwaukee, according to the Medical Examiner. With five more months in the year, there’s a good chance the City will eclipse 20 youth homicides for the fourth straight year.
Since 2017, 132 kids have been murdered. Almost three-quarters of those deaths, 96, have occurred since 2020.
Over 84 percent of those youth killed since 2017 are African American.
By and large, those kids being killed are gunned down. Out of the 132 youth homicides since 2017, 94 involved a firearm.
Ways to help in our community
The Milwaukee Police Department, Milwaukee County Parks, Office of Violence Prevention, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, and ComForce hosted a collaborative event for youth and families Thursday in Sherman Park from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Milwaukee police, fire, and local organizations are also hosting a week-long initiative called "Take Our Communities Back." They will host a supervised overnight event for teens who receive permission from their parents to attend on Friday. It is described as a positive, team-building, leadership event. You can learn more about this event and others happening all this week by visiting gunsdownwi.com.
DEADLY TREND AMONG MILWAUKEE'S YOUTH:
- 16-year-old shot, killed near 33rd and Center
- 9-year-old boy shot and killed near 76th and Mill, man and teen in custody
- Milwaukee teen charged in connection to shooting of 5-year-old girl
- 3 kids under the age of five shot within 3 days in Milwaukee
- 9 children shot within 5 days in Milwaukee: June 24-28
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