A police officer shot and killed an armed black man in Milwaukee, sparking a riot in which police were stoned with bricks, journalists were assaulted, several businesses were set on fire, and white drivers were pulled out of their cars and beaten. It turns out, the officer who fired the shots is black.
From Violence erupts after officer-involved shooting, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:
A standoff between police and an angry crowd turned violent Saturday night in the hours after a Milwaukee police officer shot and killed an armed suspect during a foot chase on the city’s north side.
After an hours-long confrontation with officers, police reported at 10:15 p.m. that a gas station at N. Sherman Blvd. and W. Burleigh St. was set on fire. Police said firefighters could not for a time get close to the blaze because of gunshots.
Later, fires were started at businesses — including a BMO Harris Bank branch, a beauty supply company and O’Reilly Auto Parts stores — near N. 35th and W. Burleigh streets, a grim and emphatic Mayor Tom Barrett said. He spoke at a midnight news conference at the District 3 police station at N. 49th St. and W. Lisbon Ave.
He and Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton pleaded with the public for calm. Barrett promised a strong police presence in coming days.
Following the violence Saturday night, Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton called for a restoration of order.
The mayor said some involved in the disturbances took to social media early in the evening to encourage others to come out and participate in trouble-making. He said many of them were young people, and he urged parents to keep tight reins on their children to avoid a repeat of Saturday night.
“Our police officers are doing everything they can to restore order,” he said. But he said everyone needed to help restore calm.
“If you love your son, if you love your daughter, text them, call them, pull them by their ears, get them home.”
The mayor said police had “shown an amazing amount of restraint” Saturday evening.
Hamilton said, “Our city is in turmoil tonight.” He promised a full and open investigation into the the police-involved shooting.
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