Three juveniles were arrested after police said a shot was fired at a city worker.
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Milwaukee officials are reviewing safety procedures after an 11-year-old boy was accused of shooting at a city inspector during an attempted carjacking Wednesday afternoon.
The Department of Neighborhood Services said the inspector was helping Milwaukee police check a nuisance property near 32nd Street and Wisconsin Avenue when the attack happened. The inspector survived without injury, but the case led to a juvenile court hearing and renewed concern over field work by city employees.
Authorities said the inspector was near his personal vehicle, which had city magnets attached, when a group of youths tried to steal it. Police said one shot was fired. The bullet grazed the inspector’s coat, but he moved away and was not struck. The shooting happened in the middle of the afternoon on a busy Milwaukee corridor.
Police said the juveniles left in another vehicle that had been stolen. Officers spotted that vehicle about 30 minutes later near 12th Street and McKinley Avenue and tried to pull it over. The driver did not stop. The pursuit ended at 12th and State streets, where the driver lost control and hit another vehicle, police said.
Three boys were arrested after a foot chase. Police identified them as an 11-year-old, a 14-year-old driver and a 16-year-old passenger. They were taken to a hospital with nonfatal injuries. Investigators said a firearm was recovered from the stolen vehicle. Police later confirmed that the 11-year-old was suspected of firing at the inspector.
The boy made his first court appearance Friday in Children’s Court. Deputy District Attorney Lovell Johnson told the court the allegations were serious because the child was accused of firing a loaded gun at a city worker. The judge ordered the boy held without bail. The names of the juveniles have not been released because of their ages.
The Department of Neighborhood Services said it had recently held an in-depth inspector safety training session through the Code Enforcement Officer Safety Foundation. The agency said the session covered field risks, including situations inspectors may face while working at properties. Officials said they would assess whether more training or equipment is needed.
The inspector has worked for the city for 17 years, according to the report. Neighbors described seeing emergency crews and police after the shooting, but some said they did not hear the gunfire. The crash scene later showed a damaged silver sedan, and police said the chase ended near a hospital and university campus.
The investigation remains active. Court proceedings for the 11-year-old are moving through the juvenile system, while police continue to review the stolen vehicle, the recovered firearm and the roles of the other two boys.
Author note: Last updated Sunday, May 3, 2026.