Chancellor’s Update: Suspect Shot on Campus

new chancellor header

Dear UWM Faculty, Staff and Students,

I write with a heavy heart to update our campus community on a shooting incident that took place today in our Peck School of the Arts Fine Arts Complex. Early this morning, two UWM Police Department officers responded to a report of a man sleeping in the Fine Arts Complex. A physical altercation took place, during which officers discovered the man had a weapon. Police shot him during the altercation. A statement with further details is below.

The safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff are of paramount concern. A thorough investigation by outside law enforcement is under way to review the incident. Once the details have been confirmed as the result of that investigation, UWM will review its security protocols consistent with the outcome of that investigation.

We have several resources for students, faculty and staff who may need help. Counseling services for students are available through our Norris Health Center. Faculty and staff in need of assistance may contact our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) online or by calling (866) 274-4723. An EAP counselor will be on campus tomorrow beginning at 9 a.m. in Engelmann Hall, room B38. Please contact our HR Department at 414-229-4463 with questions about accessing EAP services. There also are several mental health resources available to all members of the campus community.

I urge you to make use of the support and resources to process today’s incident, as needed. None of us are ever alone in times of need. We are all part of a campus community that watches out for and cares for one another.

Best regards,

Mark A. Mone
Chancellor
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

UWM Police Shoot Man with Weapon After Altercation on Campus

MILWAUKEE _ A man with a weapon was shot by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee police today following an altercation on campus. He was taken to the hospital, where police report he is stable condition.

According to initial reports of the incident:

Two UWM Police Department officers responded to the Fine Arts Complex at the Peck School of the Arts at 6:48 a.m. Tuesday following a report of a man sleeping in the building.

Officers made contact with the man. A physical altercation took place, during which officers discovered the man had a weapon. Police shot him during the altercation. Officers immediately administered first aid, and the man was later taken to a hospital. Both officers were taken to area hospitals with minor injuries.

This incident involved only one suspect.

The investigation is on-going. Following standard guidelines in an officer-involved shooting, UWM police are turning the investigation over to the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team. The Oak Creek Police Department will be the lead agency on the investigation with assistance from member agencies. All future statements regarding the investigation will come from Oak Creek police.

Other than the two UWM police officers, no faculty, staff or students were injured in this incident. It is spring break, and UWM classes are not in session and relatively few people are on campus. Two safety alerts were sent to all employees and students regarding the incident — one at 7:09 a.m. reporting shots fired and one at 7:22 a.m. reporting the suspect in custody.

The Peck School’s Fine Arts Complex includes the Art Building, the Theatre Building, the Music Building and the Arts Center Lecture Hall. The Fine Arts Complex and the Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts were closed briefly for the police investigation. They have since reopened.