Police lights. MWC file photo.
WAUWATOSA, WI (WSAU) — Police in Wauwatosa say they believe a fight led to Friday’s shooting incident at the Mayfair Mall that left several people injured.
Officers say the preliminary investigation revealed that the incident was not a random attack, and as of Saturday afternoon the gunman remained at large.
Eight people, seven adults and a teenager were injured in the shooting. Police have been conducting interviews with the victims throughout the weekend. According to Mayor Dennis R. McBride, the FBI is also involved in the investigation.
The shooting was reported early Friday afternoon. Officers remained on the scene at the mall Friday night and the mall remained closed on Saturday.
McBride released a statement on Facebook over the weekend saying he believes the incident will not break the spirit of the Wauwatosa community and condemning the act. He added that guns have “no place” in a shopping mall or other places where crowds gather.
McBride’s complete statement is as follows:
Yesterday, eight people were shot at Mayfair Mall. Fortunately, all eight have survived and are believed to be recovering. Mayfair Mall is secure but is closed today. Preliminary investigation by the Wauwatosa Police Department (WPD) indicates that the shooting was the result of an altercation and not a random act. WPD investigators, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, are continuing to interview victims and witnesses to identify and apprehend the suspect. If anyone has information about the suspect’s identity or location, please convey that information immediately to the WPD.
Wauwatosa is a safe and vibrant community. Mayfair Mall is Wisconsin’s premier shopping center. Events like this shake us, but a community as strong as Wauwatosa is will not lose its spirit because of this unfortunate incident and Mayfair will continue to be a magnet for shoppers across the region. The City and Mayfair are committed to ensuring that all who live in and visit Wauwatosa will remain safe. The City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention has offered its services to anyone affected by yesterday’s event. I thank that Office for its generosity and encourage people to take advantage of those services.
Guns have no place in shopping malls or other places in which crowds of people gather. Mayfair has a strict no-gun policy. If the shooter had complied with that policy, no one would have been hurt yesterday.
On behalf of the community, I thank the officers of the WPD and nearby police departments for their protection of shoppers, employees, and other members of the greater Milwaukee community. I also thank the Wauwatosa Fire Department for its quick work in attending to the victims’ injuries and transporting them safely to the hospital. Finally, I thank the people of Wauwatosa for their strength and determination. We have survived past challenges and we will survive this one.
The WPD will provide additional information as it becomes available. We appreciate the community’s patience and support as this investigation proceeds.
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