Police: 17-year-old boy charged in carjacking, shooting felt since he had a gun, he could get a car

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A 17-year-old Milwaukee boy has been criminally charged in connection with a carjacking and shooting that occurred near 50th and Locust last Wednesday, April 22nd.

Grover Ferguson

The accused is Grover Ferguson. He faces the following charges:

On Wednesday, shortly after 8:00 p.m., police were dispatched to the 2800 block of N. 50th Street to check on a stolen Dodge Caravan. While parked on scene, officers heard four or five gunshots and screaming that sounded close by. Officers then located a 53-year-old female victim bleeding from her face and mouth. She was taken to the hospital, where she was admitted for critical injury caused by three gunshot wounds to her face and body.

Meanwhile, officers spoke with the victim's niece who said she was across the street with her young daughter and watched her aunt get robbed by a suspect who was later identified as Grover Ferguson. The victim's niece told police Ferguson had obtained her aunt's keys, and had fled the scene in her red Chrysler Pacifica.

Police found the vehicle five hours later -- parked in the 2300 block of N. 40th Street. Police watched the vehicle and eventually observed Ferguson coming out of a nearby residence, entering the vehicle and driving away.

Police were standing by in marked squads, and they attempted to stop the suspect vehicle.

A pursuit ensued when police say Ferguson refused to stop, with speeds estimated at around 70 miles-per-hour. Police say Ferguson disregarded five stop signs and one traffic light during the 1.1-mile pursuit.

The pursuit ended when Ferguson lost control of the vehicle -- ending up in a front yard on N. 39th Street.

Ferguson took off on foot, police say, but as he rounded the corner of a home, he was stopped by the air conditioner. Police say they then observed him doing something with his hands near his waistband, and they then saw a gun. Ferguson was ordered to drop the weapon, and the Ruger .22 caliber revolver was recovered by police.

Ferguson was taken into custody, and police found the 53-year-old victim's debit, credit and discount cards on him. Additionally, the female victim was able to positively identify Ferguson as the person who shot her before taking her vehicle.

Police say Ferguson confessed to the carjacking and shooting -- telling police he took the gun from his mother one day prior to the incident. Ferguson told officers he was walking near 50th and Locust when he decided to steal a car -- saying "he felt since he had a gun and didn't want to walk anymore, he could get a car." Ferguson said he shot the 53-year-old victim because "she was moving toward him, and he got scared," according to the complaint.

The complaint indicates Ferguson was an adjudicated delinquent (convicted as a juvenile) of armed robbery on March 1st, 2011. He is not allowed to possess a firearm.