3 Shot, House Set On Fire During Milwaukee Missing Teen Search

MILWAUKEE, WI — Three people were shot and a Northside Milwaukee home was set on fire twice Tuesday after an angry crowd clashed with police outside over a sex trafficking investigation and two missing teenage girls.

Milwaukee police said the two teens were eventually found, yet didn't say how or where they were safely located. Police only said the teens were not considered endangered and had nothing to do with the house, which was located on the 2100 block of N. 40th Street in Milwaukee.

"There is also no evidence to substantiate that human trafficking occurred at that location," authorities said in a news release. "The preliminary investigation revealed that no information has been provided to MPD to suggest that the teenagers were at the residence that was set on fire or that any foul play occurred at that location."

By the time the investigation wrapped up at the house, a crowd of upset neighbors tried storming the house multiple times to find the missing teens, exchanged gunfire with people inside, and pelted police officers with bricks, police said.

House Investigated, Burned

Milwaukee Police were initially sent to the house on the 2100 block of North 40th St. Monday morning to conduct an investigation into a potential sex trafficking operation. Police said officers searched the house several times, only to have their search come up empty.

On Tuesday morning, Milwaukee police were summoned to the same house after learning that people were trying to break into the house to search for the missing teens. Milwaukee police said officers searched the residence again. Their search for the missing teens came up empty.

An hour later, around 11 a.m., Milwaukee police learned that gunshots shots were exchanged between people who lived at the home, and a group of people were attempting to enter the home for the second time in two days in search of the girls.

While officers were on scene, the crowd continued to grow as people began to throw bricks and pieces of concrete at officers, according to authorities. Two officers were injured, police said.

As police formed a perimeter in front of the house, Milwaukee police said the crowd surrounded the rear of the house and set a couch, a vehicle and the building on fire.

According to an Urban Milwaukee report, Milwaukee police visited the home at least 27 times over the last four years. Among the calls were at least nine reports of gunshots fired, five for domestic violence-battery, two for stolen vehicles and six for trouble with somebody at the property.

Clash Escalates

According to Milwaukee Police, officers had to escort members of the Milwaukee Fire Department to the scene, so they could extinguish the blaze. One firefighter suffered a non-life threatening injury and was transported to a local hospital, police said. It's unclear how the firefighter was injured.

Authorities said several shots were fired by people in the crowd, hitting three others. The victims of those non-fatal shootings were taken to a local hospital for treatment where they are expected to survive, police said.

A total of ten officers sustained injuries, according to reports.

Milwaukee police said the crowd returned and set the house on fire again. Officers intervened, and three were injured by people who hurled bricks at them.

State Rep. Jonathan Brostoff (D-Milwaukee) said he responded to the scene on Tuesday and watched as others tried to defuse the situation between police and upset neighbors.

"When I got out there, the first thing I saw was a bunch of police cars parked and a bunch of police all over, and then I saw a group of police walking at a hurried pace toward 40th Street," he said.

Brostoff said on a Facebook video post that he was witness to a chaotic scene as a growing crowd began to shout and hurl objects at officers.

"There was a lot of weird stuff today, and we need a lot of answers. And we need the police and fire commission fully staffed and fully commissioned, so we can do these investigations. We have an incredibly powerful commission, why are they half staffed?" he said. "There was a big police presence, and they had their riot gear, and what happened? The fire still happened, there was tear gas and rubber bullets. You know what? They have a hard job, we should make it easier on them. To me this was such a clarion call that we need to contact our alderpeople and our mayor."

Patch has reached out to several people who were at Tuesday's incident for more information.