'They were innocent bystanders': Community reacts after man killed, passenger injured by suspect fleeing police

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee police have arrested one of the suspects involved in a police pursuit resulting in an innocent bystander's death and the hospitalization of another. 

Family and friends identify the victim as 30-year-old Coleyone, who died after being hit by the suspect fleeing police. 

"They had nothing to do with this chase. They were innocent bystanders," said Sherman Brown, uncle of Coleyone and Mari, who was also in the impacted vehicle. "Innocent people got hurt, innocent people got killed. People losing family members they should never have, he had nothing to do with any of this, and it happened," added Angus Stewart, a childhood friend of Coleyone. Family at the scene of the crash were setting out candles and balloons, telling CBS 58 crews that Coleyone was a kind, joyful man who was a great father to his 2-year-old child, and an aspiring musician.

Coleyone and Mari were reportedly driving to the store when they were hit by a driver. Stewart says he blames the police because "there should be a cutoff point."

So far this year, there have been five police pursuits that ended in death in Milwaukee. MPD says that's up from last year, when there was only one. 

"It’s just crazy because the police should know better. They trained for that, it’s their job. Why would you keep chasing somebody for no reason?" asked Stewart.

Data from the City of Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission shows pursuits from 2012 to 2023 jumped by over 2,100% because of a change in policy, allowing officers to pursue suspects "if the officer has a reasonable belief the suspect would present a danger to human life."

The Milwaukee Police Association's president, Alexander Ayala, stands by the policy. He said, "It's not the fault of the pursuit policy per se, but it's the behavior of the suspects, because the cops, the officer doing their job, if that person pulls over, then none of this would happen and this innocent person would have not lost their life."

Ayala said while there were less police pursuits a decade ago, he says we cannot go back to that policy.

"If we go backwards, we're going to see even more crime in the city of Milwaukee... we can't just have suspects committing any crime without having any repercussion to them." Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson agrees, saying it's up to the community to put a stop to this.

"They're putting themselves at harm's way, and what's worse, they're putting innocent bystanders in the way as well. It’s not right, it's not fair to families who now have a funeral to plan because someone decided to be an idiot in the wheel of a vehicle," continued Mayor Johnson.

Milwaukee police have arrested the shooting suspect who was driving, a 17-year-old male. There were reportedly two other people in that car. Officials say one was taken to the hospital with serious injuries and a second passenger fled -- police are still looking for that suspect.