Racine shooting near 12th and Memorial, man dead
Police scene near 12th and Memorial, Racine (Courtesy: Nalan Media)
RACINE, Wis. - Racine police said a man was shot and killed during a fight Sunday night, Sept. 20.
Koreem Ozier killed
What we know:
At approximately 8:56 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20, officers headed to 12th Street and Memorial Drive after receiving a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they found 27-year-old Koreem Ozier suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. He was rushed to a hospital, but was later pronounced deceased.
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The backstory:
Police said Ozier got into a fight with an unknown man, and at some point during that fight he was shot in the chest. Police said it appears to be an isolated incident.
What they're saying:
In a statement on social media after the shooting, Racine Mayor Cory Mason described Ozier as "a beloved member" of the community:
"No words can make sense of the loss of Koreem Ozier, a beloved member of our Racine community. As we mourn this tremendous loss, I ask that we support one another, care for one another, and honor Koreem’s memory peacefully.
"Racine is a very close-knit community. Here, a death like this feels so close and so personal. It’s somebody’s child, cousin, friend, neighbor, someone they went to school with, or someone they’ve watched grow up. Even when you don’t know the person directly, chances are you know somebody who loved them.
"Our community needs time to grieve, space to heal, and all of us working together to break this cycle of violence and trauma.
"It is my hope that the person responsible is caught quickly and that the justice system can bring some measure of peace and closure to all those who are mourning."
Helping the investigation
What you can do:
Racine police ask anyone with information or video related to the shooting to reach out. Witnesses and anyone with tips can call the Racine Police Department Investigations Unit at 262-635-7756. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 262-636-9330 or through the P3 app.
What we don't know:
The identity of the unknown man involved in the fight has not been released, and no arrests have been announced thus far. It is also unclear what exactly initially led to the altercation, which police are investigating as a homicide.
Editor's note: This story was updated to correct Ozier's spelling, as provided by RPD, and include additional information.
The Source: Information in this story is from the Racine Police Department and a social media post from Racine Mayor Cory Mason. This story was reported from Eden Prairie, Minnesota by Maureen Breslin.