A tragic incident unfolded near Milwaukee's Assata High School on the morning of November 14 when an 18-year-old student was fatally shot after being approached by suspects in an attempted robbery. The shooting, which took place around 11:30 a.m. on the 4600 block of North Hopkins Street, also left one of the alleged suspects, a 17-year-old, injured. According to details reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the 18-year-old sought help at the school, which was promptly put on lockdown by the staff.
The ill-fated teen, who had been dismissed early from school due to early dismissal, succumbed to their injuries after being rushed to Froedtert Hospital. In a statement obtained by WISN 12 News, Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman expressed his frustration, deeming the incident "absolutely preventable, totally avoidable." Meanwhile, the injured suspect was taken to a hospital with nonfatal injuries and subsequently arrested, the Police Chief confirmed.
Following the shooting, Assata High School took safety measures by going into lockdown, during which time students were retained inside until conditions were deemed safe. Parents were notified to pick up their children early amid the chaos, articulating a palpable sense of discomfort and concern for their children's safety. "I get here, and I see all the stuff is blocked all off and the police. So I don't know," Anita Fleming, who was picking up her grandson, told WISN 12 News.
The response from the community and officials recognized the urgency in addressing the issue of gun violence affecting youth in Milwaukee. Milwaukee Mayor, who at the time was attending a forum on reducing gun violence among young people, tweeted his shared outrage with Chief Norman over the incident. MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius issued a heartfelt statement following the tragedy: "I am keeping this young man's family in my heart. Our young people need us aligned, unafraid, and fully committed to real solutions to gun violence in our community," according to a statement obtained by FOX 6 News Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Police continue their search for other suspects involved.
