Protests At Mayfair Mall Causing Shutdowns

WAUWATOSA, WI — When protesters gather at Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa, the mall shuts down.

On Thursday, about 100 people protested inside and on the walk outside Mayfair Mall, calling for the ouster of Wauwatosa police officer Joseph Mensah — the officer accused of shooting and killing three men in the line of duty in the last five years including 17-year-old Alvin Cole in February.

Stores in Mayfair Mall also shut down for a time on June 24 after a group of about 50 protesters gathered inside the mall, led a march and protested outside for about an hour.

Organizers met at the mall to protest Cole's death.

Chanting "Black Lives Matter," the group walked past stores with closed doors and drawn shutters in the otherwise empty mall. A few stores reopened after the march, but most closed shop for the day.

On Feb. 2, 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.

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.

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, according to police.

Officers 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.

Police said Cole was carrying a 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.