A 14-year-old boy was wounded Wednesday afternoon on Milwaukee’s northwest side after police say a firearm was mishandled, and two men are now under arrest in connection with the incident.
The shooting happened around 3:25 p.m. in the 9000 block of North 85th Street. The teen was hit by gunfire and taken to a hospital for treatment. At the scene, officers detained two men, ages 21 and 23, while detectives began sorting out what led up to the shot being fired.
What police say
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee police said the shooting stemmed from a mishandled firearm. The investigation is ongoing, and any potential criminal charges will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office for review. Police have not released the names of the two men or any booking details as of the latest update.
How this fits into broader trends
The incident comes as city officials have been pointing to promising midyear numbers on violence. At a July 7 briefing, leaders highlighted declines in both homicides and non-fatal shootings compared with the same period last year. Spectrum News 1 reported that Milwaukee Police Department second-quarter data showed non-fatal shootings and homicides each down by roughly 28 percent, and a homicide clearance rate close to 98 percent.
What’s next
Detectives are still piecing together how the gun was handled before it went off and have asked anyone with information to contact investigators. No formal charges had been filed at the time of the initial reporting, and prosecutors are expected to review the case before deciding on any counts.
For the initial on-the-ground reporting and full police comments, see the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
