New BBC Documentary focuses on the high murder rate in Milwaukee

By: CBS58 Staff

Posted: Oct 25, 2017 6:48 PM CDT

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- “I can babysit, shoot a gun and cook at the same d*** time,” says Shaunda Payne, a Milwaukee resident who is interviewed in a new BBC Documentary that focuses on the high murder rate in Milwaukee.

“Murder in Milwaukee” aired on BBC2 last weekend as part of the series “Dark States." It takes a deep look at violent crimes in Milwaukee.

The documentary, directed by Louis Theroux, shows graphic footage of multiple crime scenes and shootings, mainly in Milwaukee Police Department District 5.

The documentary's website states:

"Milwaukee is said to be one of the most racially divided and impoverished cities in the US. With spiraling gun crime and homicide rates, this Midwestern city encapsulates America's complex and troubled relationship with guns and the increasing disharmony between African-American communities and the police."

A 2016 report by 24/7WallSt labeled Milwaukee as the fifth most violent city in America, saying the number of violent crimes in Milwaukee rose by 60.5 percent from 2010 to 2015. The report also says, “In just five years, the city moved from the 29th most dangerous city to the fifth most dangerous among major U.S. cities.”

The FBI’s 2015 Uniform Crime Report said there were 145 murders in Milwaukee in 2015 alone.

However, CBS 58 reported earlier this year that Milwaukee crime totals for 2016 were down compared to 2015.

"This department is working hard," said Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn in an interview with CBS 58 reporter Evan Kruegel. "It's important that the community recognize that progress is being made."