City leaders say Milwaukee’s violent crime is a ‘state of crisis’

MILWAUKEE  — Milwaukee Alderman Mark Chambers Jr. mentioned the taking pictures demise of mail provider Aundre Cross is past tragic. 

“It was an unlucky occasion,” Chambers Jr. mentioned. “It ought to have by no means occurred.”

The taking pictures occurred within the neighborhood he represents, Milwaukee’s Second Aldermanic District. 

“I cherished the person. He was a father of 4. I truly came upon that a few of his youngsters truly attended the identical college as my son,” Chambers Jr. mentioned. “He was very devoted to his work and to his household. It’s simply very tragic and really unlucky, and it actually simply ought to have by no means occurred.”

Cross’ demise marks greater than 200 homicides in Milwaukee up to now in 2022, in line with metropolis information.

It’s a report for the town, and individuals who stay within the metropolis mentioned they’re fed up. 

“They need to be fed up as a result of proper now we’re in a state of disaster within the metropolis,” Chambers Jr. mentioned. “We now have damaged the report for essentially the most homicides for the third 12 months in a row, and that’s unacceptable.”

Mayor Cavalier Johnson agreed. 

On Tuesday, he renewed his calls to state and federal lawmakers to alter gun legal guidelines. 

“Clearly, it’s fairly apparent, that an individual who would kill a postal employee shouldn’t have had their arms on a gun within the first place,” Johnson mentioned. “All of us have to return to grips with that, and all of us need to work to cease and ensure of us don’t have that form of entry.”

Nevertheless it’s not simply weapons.

Spectrum Information spoke with Tarsha McClain on Monday. She was buddies with Cross and labored with him on the similar publish workplace. 

She mentioned whereas it’s not widespread for mail carriers to be killed, violence is nothing new. 

“This wasn’t the primary assault on carriers,” McClain mentioned. 

Johnson mentioned this murder continues to indicate that the town wants extra sources on the police division. 

“I do know that when individuals name the police, our division works extraordinarily laborious to deal with the problems as they arrive in,” Johnson mentioned. “Now, there’s a number of calls which are coming in throughout the town and the police division is working very diligently with the sources that they’ve with a view to handle it.”

Chambers Jr. mentioned he understands why mail carriers in Milwaukee — and why individuals who stay within the metropolis — need one thing to alter. 

“I’ve household which are mail carriers. My uncle truly labored on the similar storage that Aundre labored at. I’ve aunts, I’ve buddies which are mail carriers, and I need them to know that we’re with them,” Chambers Jr. mentioned. “We’re with them each step of the best way.”

Each Chambers Jr. and Mayor Johnson each need to remind the neighborhood if you happen to see one thing, even when it’s small, say one thing. 

Police mentioned they’re nonetheless investigating the circumstances main as much as the incident and are trying to find suspects. MPD helps with the investigation, together with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The inspection service is providing a reward of as much as $50,000 for info resulting in the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects. They are saying the suspect or suspects needs to be thought-about armed and harmful. The suspect automobile was described as a silver Audi Q5 SUV with tinted home windows.

Those that have details about the crime can contact MPD at (414) 935-7360 or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at (877) 876-2455. Should you want to stay nameless, you possibly can contact Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-TIPS or P3 TIPS.​