On November 20, 2020, a shooting occurred at Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, United States. Eight people were injured but survived. The shooter fled the scene afterwards and was later arrested during a traffic stop. Police said the shooting was not a random act and had been sparked by an earlier altercation between two groups. Two days later, several people were arrested in connection with the shooting, including a 15-year-old boy.[2][3][4]
| Mayfair Mall shooting | |
|---|---|
  Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, the location of the shooting | |
| Location | Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, United States |
| Date | November 20, 2020 2:50 PM (CST) |
Attack type | Mass shooting |
| Weapons | Handgun |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Injured | 8 |
| Perpetrator | Xavier Sevilla[1] |
Background
editOn February 2, 2020, a fatal shooting had occurred at Mayfair Mall. In that shooting, Alvin Cole, a 17-year-old African-American male, was killed in an incident with police officers. Cole fired a bullet from a gun before being fatally shot five times by black police officer Joseph Mensah.[5][6] Mensah was suspended and eventually resigned after an independent investigation found that he was involved in two other fatal shootings, among other issues, and revealed that the bullet Cole fired hit his own arm before he was fatally shot by the officer. His resignation is effective as of November 30, 2020.[7][8] Despite this, no charges were filed against the officer, sparking protests.[9]
Shooting
editAt around 2:50 p.m. CST on November 20, 2020, an unidentified suspect fired between eight and fifteen shots[10] near the entrance to the Macy's in the mall.[11] Officers believe the shooting was in relation to a fight near the area prior to the shooting, and they do not believe that the shooting was a random act.[12] Eyewitnesses said they heard several shots but did not realize that it was a gun being fired until they saw victims fall to the floor. Many people fled the mall and went into the parking lots, where they used cars as cover to hide from the gunfire.[12] Others sheltered in place or dropped to the floor to avoid the gunfire.[13]
By the time the first officers arrived at the scene, the suspect had already fled. More than 100 officers from local and federal agencies ultimately responded at the mall,[11] including agents from the FBI. A reunification site was created away from the mall for all those that got separated during the shooting.[14]
Victims
editSeven adults and one teenager were injured in the shooting, but all of them survived.[15] Four of the victims were involved in the altercation that sparked the shooting, while the other four were described by police as innocent bystanders.[16]
Perpetrator
editIn a press conference, the Wauwatosa police chief said that, according to eyewitness accounts, the suspect was likely "a white male in his 20s or 30s".[17]
A later report from police clarified the suspect was a 15-year-old Hispanic male named Xavier Sevilla who allegedly committed the shooting due to a previous altercation with a group at the mall.[18] Sevilla was arrested during a traffic stop in Milwaukee, during which the believed weapon he used was also recovered in the car. Two more arrests in connection with the shooting were announced; a person believed to have been involved and the passenger of the car at the traffic stop.[19] The suspect's name is being withheld as authorities have identified him as a 15-year-old male.[20] On January 6, 2023, Sevilla pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree reckless injury with the use of a dangerous weapon and on March 30, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison and five years of extended supervision.[21][22][23]
Reactions
editWisconsin Governor Tony Evers said of the shooting: "We are thinking about all the customers and workers affected by this act of violence and are grateful for the first responders who helped get people to safety. As we learn more, we offer our support for the entire Wauwatosa community as they grapple with this tragedy."
The Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention issued a statement after the shooting commending the quick response of first responders to the shooting, stating; "We commend the quick actions of mall staff and first responders in assisting families to safety and the life-saving efforts of the trauma unit at Froedtert Hospital. The Trauma Response Team is a partnership between the City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention and Milwaukee County’s Child Mobile Crisis team to support children and youth exposed to violent or traumatic incidents in our community."[24]
Macy's released a statement that it was working with police officers in the investigation of the shooting, and that they were saddened by the incident and the safety of their employees and customers was their top priority.[12]
References
edit- ^ "Man gets 15 years in prison for suburban Milwaukee mall shooting that wounded 8". La Crosse Tribune. Associated Press. March 31, 2023.
- ^ Stelloh, Tim (November 22, 2020). "15-year-old arrested in Wisconsin mall shooting that injured eight". NBC News. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
- ^ Miston, Bill (November 20, 2020). "Wauwatosa PD: 8 wounded in mall shooting; perpetrator on the run". FOX6 News Milwaukee. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ "Police: Mayfair Mall shooting that injured eight people not a random act". WISN. November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ Zelst, Christina Van (November 21, 2020). "Shooting is latest incident in history of crimes at Mayfair Mall". WITI. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ Spencer, Suzanne (February 7, 2020). "Wauwatosa police release video from officer-involved shooting at Mayfair Mall". WITI. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ Dortch, Winnie (October 7, 2020). "Investigator: Wauwatosa cop should be fired after shootings". WDJT-TV. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ Booker, Brakkton (November 18, 2020). "Suburban Milwaukee Police Officer Who Has Killed 3 People Since 2015 Set To Resign". NPR. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ Richmond, Todd (October 8, 2020). "Protests spark in Wisconsin after police officer not charged for death of Black man". Global News. Associated Press. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ Danbeck, Jackson (November 20, 2020). "Suspect still at large after shooting 8 people at Mayfair Mall; no deaths reported". TMJ4. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ a b Carson, Sophie; Luthern, Ashley (November 20, 2020). "Wauwatosa police: 'Investigators working tirelessly to identify and apprehend the suspect' in Mayfair shooting". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Police Still Searching for Suspect in Shooting That Injured 8 at Wisconsin Mall". NBC Chicago. November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
- ^ Deese, Kaelan (November 21, 2020). "Wisconsin police still searching for mall shooting suspect". The Hill. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
- ^ "Mass Shooting At Mayfair Mall In Wauwatosa, Wisconsin; Shooter 'At Large'". CBS 2 Chicago. November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
- ^ Goudie, Chuck; Jones, Will (November 20, 2020). "Mayfair Mall shooting: 8 injured, including teen, during 'active shooter incident' in Wisconsin". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ "Police arrest 15-year-old in connection to Mayfair Mall shooting injuring 8 in Wauwatosa". ABC7 Chicago. November 22, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ Ray Sanchez, Kay Jones and Jamiel Lynch (November 20, 2020). "Eight people injured in shooting at mall near Milwaukee". CNN. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ Noennig, Evan Casey and Jordyn. "A 15-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the Mayfair mall shooting". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- ^ Danbeck, Jackson (November 23, 2020). "Total of three people arrested in connection to Mayfair Mall mass shooting". TMJ4. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ Goudie, Chuck; Markoff, Barb; Tressel, Christine; Weidner, Ross (November 25, 2020). "Accused teen shooter at suburban Milwaukee mall shooting arrested in car with Illinois plates". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
- ^ Mintz, Hillary (January 6, 2023). "17-year-old pleads guilty to Mayfair Mall mass shooting in 2020". WISN.
- ^ "Wisconsin teen who shot 8 people at a Milwaukee mall sentenced to 15 years in prison". Associated Press. March 31, 2023.
- ^ "Man gets 15 years in prison for suburban Milwaukee mall shooting that wounded 8". Wisconsin State Journal. Associated Press. March 31, 2023.
- ^ "Wauwatosa PD: 8 wounded in mall shooting; perpetrator on the run". FOX6 News Milwaukee. November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.