1 person shot in Milwaukee protest but no repeat of riots

Published 10:16 am Monday, August 15, 2016

MILWAUKEE — One person was shot and wounded during a second night of violent unrest in Milwaukee to protest the fatal shooting of a black man by police, but there was no repeat of the widespread destruction of property.

On Sunday night, two dozen officers in riot gear confronted protesters who were throwing rocks and other objects at police near where Sylville K. Smith was fatally shot a day earlier. Police tried to disperse the crowd and warned of arrests.

The city’s police chief said Smith, 23, was shot and killed by a black police officer Saturday afternoon after he turned toward the officer with a gun in his hand. The officer’s identity has not been released. The killing touched off violence that led to the destruction of six businesses on the city’s mostly black north side Saturday night. Wisconsin’s governor put the National Guard on standby to protect against further violence.

Email newsletter signup

TV footage showed a small group of protesters running through the streets Sunday night, picking up orange construction barriers and hurling them out of the way. Police posted on Twitter three locations where they said shots were fired. Police said an injured officer was taken to a hospital after a rock broke the windshield of a squad car.