6 dead in Milwaukee home; 4 persons of interest in custody

MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee police say they have four persons of interest in custody in connection with six homicides that happened in a home near 21st and Wright. The persons of interest are all adults. Previously police say all six victims, five men and a woman, were shot. Now, officials say this was a targeted attack.

"This was not something where we are saying this is a random act," said Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman.

Officials say they are trying to determine if the persons of interest have any involvement in this crime. At this time, no charges have been referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.

Chief Norman said he believes there are multiple suspects involved in this incident.

"On Monday, we became aware of a 911 call that was considered to be related to the investigation, but was not attributed to the address where the incident occurred. This 911 caller claimed that she was a victim of a shooting -- and that multiple other people were shot," Norman said. "The caller gave two different addresses in the vicinity of where the homicides occurred, near the area -- but neither one of them were on the 2500 block of N. 21st Street. The call was received approximately 12 hours prior to discovery of the victims."

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Officers were dispatched to both locations, however they did not locate any evidence of the shooting and were unable to make contact with the caller.

Homicide investigation near 21st and Wright in Milwaukee

Eventually police were able to locate the person who made the call -- and able to determine she was not a victim of the shooting.

Her connection to this incident remains under investigation.

"Our community deserves better and this senseless violence needs to stop," Norman said.

"We can't have a city where somebody can go pull a trigger and kills somebody and then goes and sits on somebody's couch. We can't have that," said Acting Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson. "When folks see something, you have to step up, you have to say something."

Acting Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson

The deaths are being investigated as homicides. Officials with the Milwaukee Police Department tell FOX6 News the victims had injuries that are suspected to have been caused by gunfire.

The medical examiner formally identified the victims as follows:

• Charles Hardy, 42
• Caleb Jordan, 23
• Javoni Liddell, 31
• Donta "Michael" Williams, 44
• Michelle Williams, 49
• Donald Smith, 43

"This mass shooting is not representative of the district -- and is not representative of this city," said Milwaukee Alderman Russell Stamper.

Milwaukee Alderman Russell Stamper

Alderman Stamper suggested if someone is not comfortable calling police about this incident to call Crime Stoppers. If they are not comfortable calling Crime Stoppers, they should call the Office of Violence Prevention – and if they are not comfortable with that, Stamper even offered his own number, 414-708-0525.

"Please help us solve that crime," Stamper said.

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"The Milwaukee Police Department has an anonymous tip line – use it," Johnson said.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS or P3 Tips App.

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