An 18-year-old Milwaukee man landed in custody early Thursday in Sturtevant after Racine County deputies, already dealing with an apartment fire, intercepted a stolen vehicle and heard gunfire nearby. The suspect had a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and was taken by ambulance to Froedtert Hospital for treatment.
According to a press release reported by FOX6 Milwaukee, deputies were still on scene at an apartment fire near 86th and Shannon when, at about 3:11 a.m., a deputy heard multiple gunshots coming from an area northwest of the blaze. Around that same time, the Racine County Communications Center received a report of a stolen vehicle in the neighborhood. Deputies soon intercepted that vehicle on Wisconsin State Highway 20 just east of Renaissance Boulevard and took the driver into custody. FOX6 reports the sheriff’s office believes the two calls appear to be linked and that investigators have opened a criminal probe.
Investigation led by sheriff's detectives
Per the Racine County Sheriff's Office, the Criminal Investigations Bureau is leading the inquiry into the vehicle-theft and shots-fired reports and is working to piece together how the events unfolded. Officials said the shots-fired call is not connected to the apartment fire itself and urged anyone with information to contact investigators.
How this fits into recent Sturtevant calls
The village disbanded its police department in November 2025 and now relies on the Racine County Sheriff's Office for patrols, a change that has put county deputies in front of most major incidents. A parking lot gun scare that triggered a March lockdown at The R.E.A.L. School after a suspicious-vehicle sighting showed how quickly local calls can escalate.
Victim status and next steps
As reported by FOX6 Milwaukee, the arrested man was treated at Froedtert Hospital for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, and authorities had not released any charges as of Thursday. Investigators are collecting evidence and conducting interviews, and any charging decisions will be made by the Racine County District Attorney after detectives complete their work.
Anyone with tips or information about the vehicle theft or the shots-fired incident is asked to contact the Racine County Sheriff's Office Records or Criminal Investigations Bureau. The county's law enforcement page lists phone numbers and other contact options. Sheriff’s officials reiterated there is no active threat to the public while detectives continue their investigation.
