Milwaukee police release footage of officer shooting and killing a resident at a center for veterans

The Milwaukee Police Department released bodycam footage Friday of an officer shooting and killing a resident at a center for veterans who, police say, took two people hostage.

The incident took place Dec. 20 at Vets Place Central, located at 3330 W. Wells St. The facility offers transitional housing for homeless veterans.

Police initially responded to the facility for reports of an active shooter. "Guy's in here with a gun, shooting people," one man says during a 911 call, audio released by police discloses.

"Did he actually fire shots, sir?" a dispatcher asks, to which the man responds, "Yes. Yes."

Upon officers arrival, police say they searched the building for a suspect and victims before encountering a man with a handgun in the basement. The man then proceeded to take "physical control" of two other people, police said.

Video shows a brief standoff where officers acknowledge it is a hostage situation and then issue commands to the man to drop the gun.

Seconds later, an officer fires his weapon striking the 66-year-old Milwaukee man in the head, killing him. The other people that police say were taken hostage were then rushed out of the room.

No other residents or officers were injured in the incident, police said. Police recovered a handgun and one casing.

The 38-year-old officer who fatally shot the man has more than 19 years of service with the department and remains on administrative duty as the investigation is ongoing, police said.

The Oak Creek Police Department is serving as the lead agency on the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team.

At the time of the incident, Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said residents of the building were evacuated so police could check for explosives and other hazardous materials.

The facility is owned by the Center for Veterans Issues, Ltd. and opened in 1994 as a licensed residential care facility and halfway house, according to city property records. The center provides housing and other services to more than 300 veterans and their families on any given night, according to its website.

Elliot Hughes of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.

Contact Drake Bentley at (414) 391-5647 or DBentley1@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DrakeBentleyMJS.