Five Killed in Overnight Shootings in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE - Five men are dead after a series of overnight shooting's in Milwaukee.

     "We had a horrible night last night," Mayor Tom Barrett said Saturday afternoon.

The shooting's stretched from 6 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday, a 9-hour span that saw 9 shootings, including the 5 deaths.

The victims range in age from 21 to 36.

According to police, the first shooting happened around 6 p.m. on Sherman Blvd. That's when a 33-year-old man was shot while driving near Sherman Park. 

     "The police were right there," said Barrett. "They were in Sherman Park, they could hear the gunshots." 

Seven hours later, police say a "robbery-related incident" led to a shooting near 23rd and State. A 21-year-old male, and a 23-year-old male were killed in that shooting. 

Then, just before 3 a.m., a group began arguing in the parking lot of the All Stars Bar off 40th and Fond du Lac Ave. Police say four people were shot. A 36-year-old male, and a 34-year-old male were killed.

Desmond Barnes goes to church across the street. 

     "It's very sad, very sickening," he says. "So much violence going on, and it's senseless violence." 

According to police, there have now been 81 homicides in Milwaukee this year. At this point last year, there were 94. 

     "It happens way too often," said Mayor Barrett. "It happens because there are too many guns. It happens because there are too many people that don't know how to solve their problems without violence."

But community leaders like Tory Lowe say access to guns is only part of the problem. 

     "It's way deeper than the gun issue, because most of the people that carry guns, they carry them for an economic reason. They want to get paid, they want to strong-arm somebody, it's economic. There are only two ways to reduce violence in any community. That's jobs, create an industry for people to work, and better education."