WAUKESHA, Wis. — People in Waukesha are expressing relief after police announced the arrest of three people in connection with a downtown shooting that shook the community.
The shooting occurred near the downtown library but is not related to a recent string of shootings in Waukesha and Brookfield, according to police. Instead, investigators say this was a dispute between friends that escalated into violence.
Waukesha Police arrested 19-year-old Kaden Hoefler in connection with the shooting that targeted his ex-girlfriend and his friend.
According to police, Hoefler drove the shooter to the apartment where the two victims were staying. The apartment sits directly across the street from the library in downtown Waukesha.
Court records identified the alleged shooter as Dominic Doran, 18, of Hartford.
Watch: Witnesses, still shaken, say arrests bring relief after downtown Waukesha shooting
"It happened right outside our front door," said Azar Jones, who lives near the shooting scene.
Tristan Capsos, who lives across the street, heard the gunfire unfold.
"I heard at least 4 or 5, thud, thud, thud, thud, and then a car drive off," Capsos said.
Newly released court records reveal the shooter tracked the two victims' location through the Snapchat app throughout most of the day. Around 9 p.m., Hoefler, Doran and another friend — Santos Rodriguez, 19, of Milwaukee — decided to drive from Milwaukee to Waukesha to "mess with them," according to court documents.
Hoefler told police the shooter brought a .22 caliber AR-style long rifle and a BB gun, but that he thought the shooter would only fire BBs. Police found multiple gunshots through the small apartment, including some lodged in the mirror and headboard right where the victims — a 16-year-old and a 19-year-old — had been taking cover.
"How are people my age, that could be like a peer," Jones said. "Honestly it is scary, you wouldn't expect it."
After the shooting, police say the male victim called his friend for a ride home. That friend, according to police, was the shooter who returned to the scene and picked him up.
Hoefler, Doran and Rodriguez were all arrested. They are each facing charges for recklessly endangering safety.
"When I saw that they got everybody in custody, I immediately sent it to my mom. I was like, 'Oh, thank god,'" Jones said. "It is relieving that we have that clarity that somebody is behind bars now."
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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