17-Year-Old Shot By Police At Mayfair Mall Fired First: Report

WAUWATOSA, WI — Five days after 17-year-old Alvin Cole was shot and killed by a Wauwatosa police officer, Wauwatosa police released video from the shooting and provided a moment-by-moment breakdown of the altercation that ended Cole's life.

The main takeaway from the press conference on Friday was that Cole fled police, carrying with him a stolen 9 mm semi-automatic pistol that had been stolen in Milwaukee in October.
Police also said during the pursuit that Cole fired his gun at officers as he was on the run.

"Any time a police officer feels compelled to use deadly force, the sense of security in the city and the police department is turned upside-down," police chief Barry Weber said Friday. "Anyone who brings a handgun into a crowded shopping mall and threatens another guest is a matter of concern." In this case it was a 17-year-old with a gun. What is clear is that the deceased fired his weapon before the police officer fired theirs."

During Friday's press conference, Wauwatosa Police said a Mayfair Mall public safety officer called police, saying "We just had a domestic trouble by Sephora, and I believe there was somebody that was ending up saying that somebody had a gun with them. We just want the police to get involved just in case they do have it."

That call came across at 5:41 p.m. on Feb. 2.

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One minute later, a police dispatcher radioed an officer to respond to the mall, according to police. The officer was provided a description of Cole, and that he was in a group of three people.

"The victim believes he saw a gun," the dispatcher told the officer.

By just after 6 p.m. an officer on-scene told dispatch "They're walking south through the parking deck, looks like they're going to run if I try to step out with them."

The officer found the group outside the Container Store. They took off running toward the Cheesecake Factory and police began a chase.

As police chased Cole, video showed Cole firing one gunshot at police. You can hear officers shout "drop the gun" and "put it down" several times before five gunshots are fired. The pursuing officer shot Cole, resulting in his death.

Officer began CPR and life-saving measures before the Wauwatosa Fire Department came to try to save Cole's life. He was rushed to Froedtert Hospital. He was later pronounced dead by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner.

You can watch Wauwatosa police as they provide a moment-by-moment breakdown of the shooting here: