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UPDATE: Officer shot and killed near 12th and Dakota identified as Matthew Rittner

By: CBS 58 Newsroom
Posted: Feb 7, 2019 10:39 AM CDT
UPDATE: Officer shot and killed near 12th and Dakota identified as Matthew Rittner
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Updated: 12:10 p.m. February 7, 2019

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee Police have released a photo of the suspect taken into custody in connection with the death of Milwaukee Police Officer Matthew Rittner. 

The suspect is identified as 26-year-old Jordan Fricke. 

Investigators say Fricke fired several rounds, hitting the 17-year police veteran as members of Milwaukee's Tactical Enforcement Unit served a search warrant in the area of 12th and Dakota Wednesday morning. 

Online court records show Fricke has faced a number of traffic-related offenses, including OWI. He has not yet been charged in Officer Rittner's death, although Milwaukee Police say the case will be presented to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office in the coming days. 

Rittner is the third Milwaukee police officer killed on the job in the last eight months. The department had previously gone more than two decades without a line-of-duty death.

Milwaukee Police have been made aware of benefit accounts, but have not been able to validate any of them and are asking the public to hold off donating until a benefit has been verified. They have also been made aware of some people selling merchandise on behalf of Officer Rittner, but that has been done without the permission of the family.

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Updated: 10:39 a.m. February 7, 2019

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Police are collecting evidence at a Milwaukee home where a police officer was fatally shot while serving a warrant.

Officers have cordoned off part of the residential neighborhood where 35-year-old Officer Matthew Rittner was killed Wednesday.

The 17-year police veteran was shot as members of Milwaukee's Tactical Enforcement Unit served a search warrant on someone suspected of illegally selling firearms and drugs. Investigators say a 26-year-old suspect fired several rounds. He was later arrested.

Police Chief Alfonso Morales says investigators hope to wrap up their work at the scene Thursday. Rittner's autopsy also is expected to be completed Thursday.

Rittner is the third Milwaukee police officer killed on the job in the last eight months. The department had previously gone more than two decades without a line-of-duty death.

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Updated 9:00 p.m. February 6, 2019

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales identified the fallen officer as 35-year-old Matthew Rittner during a press conference on Wednesday evening.

According to police, members of the Tactical Enforcement Unit responded to the area of 12th and Dakota around 9:17 a.m. to conduct a search warrant for a suspect wanted for an illegal sale of guns and drugs.

While conducting the search warrant, officers announced themselves and as officers attempted to breach the door, police say the suspect fired several shots, hitting Officer Matthew Rittner.

Officer Rittner was immediately taken to Froedtert Hospital where he died from his injuries.

Police took 26-year-old Jordan Fricke into custody in connection with the shooting. 

“Extremely courageous, professional human being who served our country and his community with great pride,” said Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales during the press conference.

Officer Rittner began his career as a Police Aide in 2001. He dedicated 17 years to the Milwaukee Police Department.

He leaves behind a wife and a young son as well as a brother, mother, and father-in-law.

“To my officers, I’m asking you to reach out to one another and keep Matthew’s family in your prayers. We're all in this together. Milwaukee, I'm asking you to keep us in your prayers as we mourn another one of our own,” Chief Morales said. He continued in a statement, "Office Rittner is the third officer we have lost in the line of duty during a short eight month period after going approximately 22 years without a line of duty death. Yet again, we are mourning the loss of another dedicated member."


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Updated: 3:23 p.m. February 6, 2019

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Police officer shot and killed near 12th and Dakota Wednesday morning was escorted by police from Froedtert Hospital to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office Wednesday afternoon.

Milwaukee Police said in a press release that the officer is a 35-year-old man who is a 17-year veteran of the force. He was fatally wounded when shots were fired while executing a search warrant.

The 26-year-old suspect from Milwaukee has been arrested.

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Updated: 1:39 p.m. February 6, 2019

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- During a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced that the officer was killed while executing a search warrant. 

The identity of the officer is not being released at this time, because some family members still need to be notified. The officer is a 35-year-old man who was a 17-year veteran of the MPD.

MPD's tactical enforcement unit was executing a search warrant at 9:17 a.m. near 12th and Dakota. At 9:20 a.m. the enforcement unit made contact with two people and shots were fired.

The arrested suspect is a 26-year-old man from Milwaukee. 

The Department of Criminal Investigation is investigating the shooting.

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Updated: 12:52 p.m. February 6, 2019

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58/AP) -- The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner has been notified that the Milwaukee Police Officer has died.

The officer was pronounced dead at Froedtert Hospital after being shot near 12th and Dakota. The officer was serving a warrant when he was shot and killed.

An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.

There is a growing police presence at a Milwaukee hospital where an officer was taken following a shooting on the city's south side.

Officers from the Milwaukee Police Department and other suburban agencies gathered at Froedtert hospital where the officer was taken following a shooting about 9 a.m. in a residential neighborhood.

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Updated: 11:46 a.m. February 6, 2019

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee Alderman Bob Donovan tells CBS 58 that he has been told the officer has died.

Neither Milwaukee Police or the Medical Examiner or Froedtert Hospital are confirming that the officer has died.

Dozens of police officers from Milwaukee and surrounding departments have gathered at Froedtert Hospital. A press conference is expected early this afternoon.

The reported death comes less than a year after the shooting death of Milwaukee Police Officer Michael Michalski on July 25, 2018 and the car crash death of MPD Officer Charles Irvine Jr. on June 7, 2018.

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Updated: 10:58 a.m. February 6, 2019

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee Police have moved the press conference to noon located at Froedtert Hospital.

CBS 58 will carry the press conference live on air and online.

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Updated: 10:22 a.m. February 6, 2019

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee Police have tweeted that a "critical incident" happened on the south side of Milwaukee Wednesday morning. 

Froedtert Hospital confirms they are treating a Milwaukee Police Officer for injuries.

Milwaukee Public Schools says that Zablocki Elementary School was placed on a temporary lockdown due to the shooting, but it was lifted after they were told that a suspect was arrested.

A press conference has been scheduled for 11 a.m. CBS 58 will bring that press conference to you live on air and online.

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Posted: 9:47 a.m. February 6, 2019

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee Police have confirmed to CBS 58 that an officer has been shot near 12th and Dakota. 

The condition of the officer has not been released.

The shooting was reported around 9:45 a.m. Wednesday.

CBS 58 has multiple crews on scene. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has arrived at the scene.

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