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Officer-involved shooting
Officer-involved shooting
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A Milwaukee police sergeant is on administrative duty after he shot and wounded an armed 56-year-old man threatening suicide at a home near 38th and W. Galena St. early Tuesday morning, January 22nd.
The suspect is in stable condition, in police custody, and will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office later this week for possible charges.
According to police, the sergeant responded to the home shortly before 4 a.m. for reports of a suicidal man. When the sergeant arrived on the scene, he found the suicidal man inside the doorway of the residence threatening to kill himself. Authorities say the man was holding a weapon. It was later determined to be a pipe.
The officers on the scene believed the pipe to be the barrel of a gun and, fearing for their safety and the safety of those in the home, ordered the man to drop it. When the man failed to drop the weapon, the sergeant discharged his firearm, striking the suspect twice.
Andre Shaw lives across the street and saw the commotion early Tuesday morning.
"What woke me up was someone called us on the phone and asked was we alright. There was police cars all down the street -- all in front of my house and going down the corner. They don't cause any problems over there. It's not a problem house and I was surprised to hear that," Shaw said.
Another neighbor told FOX6 News the suspect has serious substance abuse issues and during the incident, this neighbor heard the suspect yelling at police.
The 31-year-old sergeant is a 13-year veteran of the Milwaukee Police Department. He will be on administrative duty following the completion of the investigation.
Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.