3-year-old Milwaukee child shot, hospitalized Thursday night
A 3-year-old child was shot and hospitalized with serious injuries on Thursday.
The shooting happened around 9 p.m. on the 5700 block of N. 76th St. Police declined to provide information on the circumstances of the incident. Police are seeking a known suspect.
Milwaukee and much of the nation has seen an increase in children harmed by guns since 2020.
That year, gun violence became the leading cause of death for children in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When comparing the four years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic to the four years since its arrival in 2020, the number of children who were injured in shootings and died by homicide doubled in Milwaukee.
Since the pandemic, Milwaukee saw an average of 105 children injured by guns and 24 killed in homicides, the majority of which are committed with guns.
Access to guns and widespread effects from the COVID-19 pandemic have been cited as factors by law enforcement, community members and academics.
However, the trend appears to have slowed so far in 2024, along with the city’s overall gun violence and homicide rate. As of Thursday, the city has recorded three child homicides and 20 child victims of nonfatal shootings, down from eight and 39 as of the same date in 2023.
Local officials have attributed the general fall in gun violence to a return to in-person youth programming, social services and the rollout of federal aid meant to help prevent violence.
Last fall, a Journal Sentinel analysis of reports from police, media, government and nonprofit agencies showed that accidental shootings involving children had increased across the state since 2020.
Although still rare, those incidents doubled in Milwaukee in the four years after the pandemic compared to the four years prior to it.
How to contact police, and to do it anonymously
Anyone with information is asked to call Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360 or, to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS or use the P3 Tips app.
Where to find free gun locks
United Neighborhood Center of Milwaukee, 1609 W. North Ave.
City on a Hill, 2224 W. Kilbourn Ave., during outreach events on the second Saturday of each month.
Milwaukee Christian Center, 807 S. 14th St, at their food pantry, which operates from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Neighborhood House of Milwaukee, 2819 W. Richardson Place.
Neu-Life Community Development, 2014 W. North Ave.
Silver Spring Neighborhood Center, 5460 N 64th St.
COA Youth and Family Centers, 909 E. Garfield Ave. and 2320 W. Burleigh St.
Northcott Neighborhood House, 2460 N. 6th St.
Journey House, 2110 W. Scott St.
All Milwaukee Fire Department stations and health centers run by the Milwaukee Health Department also hand out free gun locks. Directories for fire stations and health centers are available online.
This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee child shot and in hospital with serious injuries, police say