'Do better': Milwaukee leaders call on parents, community after several violent incidents

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- City leaders gathered Wednesday to discuss several tragedies that have occurred recently in Milwaukee.

Mayor Cavalier Johnson said he is extremely upset by Tuesday's violent incidents, especially as two acts involved children or teenagers.

He noted that not far from where a child was shot and killed Tuesday, a community center had free gun locks available.

The mayor reiterated that the city has resources, but people need to actually use them.

"There are four bodies, four bodies with the medical examiner's office right now," Johnson said. "There are four bodies with the medical examiner's office that, quite frankly, shouldn't be there."

The mayor voiced his frustration at recent incidents; specifically, three innocent people killed in a crash during a police chase, and an 11-year-old boy who was allegedly shot and killed by a young teenager.

"We need people to make better choices, and we need the adults in the lives of young people to do their job," he said.

Mayor Johnson said these tragedies were entirely preventable.

"I want you to get it through your heads. Get it through your heads that if you have a gun in your possession, if you have a gun in your home, please, please, go and get a gun lock," he said. "Secure that weapon. Make sure that your young people don't have access to it."

Sharing the mayor's anger was Dr. Brenda Cassellius, the superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools.

She asked neighbors to check on neighbors, especially young people.

"We have our crisis team out there today meeting with our school community and trying to do intervention," Dr. Cassellius said. "Preventing any further atrocities that could happen with any new education with our parent coordinators, our social workers, our counselors."

City leaders are calling on parents to step up: check their kids' phones, social media, and possessions, and make sure they're not engaging in anything dangerous.

"We have the responsibility, as adults in the city of Milwaukee, to do better by our children. Do better," said Alderman Mark Chambers. He oversees the city's second district, where the 11-year-old was killed.

Regarding the deadly police chase, Mayor Johnson said it's a "challenging decision" for Milwaukee police when it is appropriate to start a pursuit.

Johnson said he believes police pursuits are sometimes necessary to discourage reckless driving as a whole.