On the evening of Friday, August 23, 2024, a burst of gunfire shattered the peace in a strip mall parking lot near Teutonia and Florist in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The violent attack left one man dead and two others wounded. The deceased was identified as 30-year-old Saxon Perry, a Black / African American male. The shooting occurred at approximately 5:10 p.m. as a celebration of life was concluding, and mourners, shoppers, and employees were present in the busy lot.
Witnesses described a terrifying scene as shots were fired in rapid succession, causing people to duck for cover behind vehicles.
Saxon Perry was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other victims, a 25-year-old and a 34-year-old, were also struck by the gunfire. The 25-year-old was transported to a hospital in serious condition, while the 34-year-old was in critical condition. The incident was partially captured on a Facebook Live stream, which showed the chaos as it unfolded.
Shortly after the shooting, a vehicle was observed leaving the scene at a high rate of speed. This initiated a police pursuit. The fleeing vehicle disregarded a red light at the intersection of North Sherman Boulevard and West Villard Avenue, leading to a collision with another car. The driver of the suspect vehicle, a 32-year-old man, then fled on foot into a nearby residence.
The Milwaukee Police Department's Tactical Enforcement Unit responded to the location where the suspect had barricaded himself. After a standoff, the 32-year-old driver was taken into custody. A search of his vehicle uncovered a firearm and suspected narcotics. The 19-year-old driver of the vehicle that was struck during the chase sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
