Wauwatosa Police providing an update into the investigation connected to a fatal officer-involved shooting outside Mayfair Mall February 2, 2020.
Chief Barry Weber says his department got permission from Milwaukee Police, who are leading the investigation into the shooting, to share this information which included dispatch audio, squad video and photos from the scene.
“Our department responded to a call to the mall of a possible domestic disturbance,” says Weber. “It was reported that one of the people involved may be in possession of a gun. That turned out to be factual. The weapon is a 9mm semi-automatic pistol that was reported stolen in Milwaukee this past October.
“Anyone who brings a handgun into a crowded shopping mall and threatens another guest of the mall is a matter of concern. In this case it was a 17-year-old with a gun. What is clear and not a matter of dispute is that the deceased fired his weapon before the police officer fired theirs.”
Captain Brian Zalewski then provided a timeline of what took place based on the department’s response, which began just before 6 p.m. Key points shared include:
- The department receiving a description of the suspect’s clothing to identify who had the pistol out of a group of ten people involved in the initial disturbance.
- When officers arrived, the suspect was one of several people in the group who fled on foot.
- Officers gave several verbal commands for the suspect to drop the pistol.
- The suspect fired his gun once.
- After several more commands for the pistol to be dropped, an officer fired his weapon five times.
Officers and Wauwatosa Fire Department members performed treatment of the suspect’s gunshot injuries. He was taken to Froedtert Hospital where he passed away.
Wauwatosa Police have not released the name of the officer who fired their weapon.
The department also has not officially identified the suspect. Family members have identified him as Alvin Cole. Chief Weber says he did reach out to the mother of the suspect, and then shared the information made public to the family’s attorney, prior to the press conference.
The investigation continues.