People Settling Disputes With Guns A Factor In Milwaukee Homicide Increases, Says Flynn

Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn said Thursday that a key reason for a substantial increase in the city’s murders this year is people settling disputes with firearms.

More than 100 homicides have occurred in Milwaukee so far this year — an 82 percent increase over the same time last year. Most of the homicides have been gun-related.

Flynn said some disputes are being settled by groups of people on the street.

“I think we’ve had 10 multiple-death shootings so far in single incidents. I think last year at this time we had half that number — less than half than number. So we’re getting a lot of violence attached to some sort of argument or fight,” he said.

Flynn said there’s one bit of good news: All types of crime in Milwaukee have declined this month compared to August of 2014.

The police chief continues to call for stiffer penalties for illegal possession of a gun.