Milwaukee Police Say Number Of Young People Wounded By Gunfire Is Increasing

Police in Milwaukee say more young people are being wounded by gunfire this year compared to last year.

The update comes as city officials look for the killers of 5-year-old Laylah Petersen, who died on Thursday night when she was struck by one of several bullets fired into her home. She became the 100th gun homicide victim in Wisconsin this year.

Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn held a news conference on Saturday with Petersen’s relatives. Flynn said that so far in 2014 , gunfire is hitting more more young people in the city.

“In the first 10 months of last year, two children under the age of 13 had been shot,” he said. “This year, it’s 11. The number of shooting victims under the age of 18 has gone up 28 percent compared to last year — 68 compared to 53.”

Flynn said that three children under age 13 have been fatally shot this year, compared to four last year. He said that that’s consistent with an overall decrease in gun homicides in the city this year compared to in 2013, and an overall increase in nonfatal shootings.

Flynn also said law enforcement has been arresting more juveniles this year for being in possession of a firearm.