WEST ALLIS, Wis. — West Allis Police shot and killed an armed homicide suspect near S. 91st St. and W. Orchard St. Saturday evening.
The West Allis Police Department(WAPD) received a call around 4:40 p.m. stating someone was shot.
When officers arrived, they located a 71-year-old man who had been shot and later died at the scene. Police said a 71-year-old woman was also shot.
WAPD said they also found a 72-year-old man armed with a handgun.
Officers ordered the shooter to drop the weapon. When they refused, six officers fired their guns, killing the suspect, according to WAPD in a press release.
"Everything I heard today, the officers involved are heroic," West Allis Chief of Police Patrick Mitchell said. "They did an excellent job and put themselves in jeopardy."
The 72-year-old was thought to be the suspect responsible for the death, according to WAPD.
Police said the 71-year-old woman was taken to the hospital for her injuries.
Ashley Kingsbury, who lives in the area, said her neighborhood is normally filled with kids riding bikes and neighbors chatting outside.
Other neighbors describe it as quiet and calm— a stark contrast to the crime scene that unfolded Saturday evening.
"Everybody in the apartment complex [was] screaming and yelling, saying somebody's shot," Kingsbury said. "When we were pulling up, officers were getting out of cars with guns drawn."
According to the police, all three individuals knew one another and lived on the block.
"It's just stupid. What's the outcome here today? It's just senseless actions," Mitchell said. "If you're having a neighborhood issue, go back in your home and ignore it."
Kingsbury said the incident is difficult to process.
"It could've been one of them that got in the line of fire," she said, referring to her niece and nephew who watched the situation unfold.
"Just why? Why? Like I get it— you have issues with neighbors, but why are we going to guns? Why are we going to violence?" Kingsbury asked.
This was the first homicide in West Allis in a year and a half, according to WAPD.
All six officers will be placed on administrative leave — as per police protocol when an officer is involved in a shooting.
The Greenfield Police Department is leading the investigation.
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