MILWAUKEE, Wis. — A dramatic police chase ended in a gunfight and a crash Friday afternoon, drawing a crowd in a typically quiet neighborhood. The intense sequence of events unfolded after authorities located a suspect wanted for a fatal shooting earlier in the week.
Witnesses captured the harrowing moments on cellphone video as a black sedan sped through Milwaukee before crashing near the intersection of Vel R. Phillips and Reservoir avenues. The chase began in Glendale, where local police recognized the driver as a man connected to a deadly incident in Shorewood, which occurred Thursday.
“I stepped outside to see what was happening, and it was just complete chaos,” said a local resident, Pamela Buchanan. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a series of gunshots as the suspect fired upon officers during the chase. “All I could hear was a rapid succession of pops, followed by sirens,” recounted Skyler Fetzer, another bystander.
Following the crash, officers observed bullet holes in both the police vehicles and the suspect’s car. News Chopper footage indicated the moment police recovered a body from the sedan. “With guns drawn, we were trying to stay away from the windows; we knew it wasn’t safe,” explained witness Nicole Groce. “It was only once they pulled the body out that we understood the seriousness of the situation.”
The suspect, continuing to engage officers from inside his vehicle, ultimately met deadly force as police returned fire near Dr. William Finlayson Street. Authorities confirmed that no officers sustained injuries during the pursuit or the ensuing firefight. Following standard procedure, those officers who discharged their weapons have been placed on administrative leave.
As for the identity of the suspect, police have withheld details pending family notification. However, the family of the victim from the prior Shorewood shooting has named her as 34-year-old Victoria Truss.
The incident involves several law enforcement agencies, with the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team assigned to oversee the crash and shooting inquiry. Meanwhile, the Oak Creek Police Department is designated as the lead investigator. As the investigation continues, the community remains shaken by the events that unfolded in their neighborhood.