Bucks cancel Game 7 watch party after 21 wounded in shootings near Fiserv Forum
The Milwaukee Bucks have canceled a Game 7 watch party at the Fiserv Forum plaza after a series of shootings left 21 people wounded following their loss in Game 6 at the arena on Friday.
All of the victims are expected to survive, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Calling the shootings "horrific" and "devastating," the Bucks announced the cancellation as a way "to allow law enforcement to devote needed resources to the continued investigation of last night's events."
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) May 14, 2022
The full statement:
The shootings that happened in downtown Milwaukee last night were horrific and we condemn this devastating violence. We are grateful to local law enforcement for its valiant efforts to try to contain what was a dangerous and fluid situation. While these incidents took place outside of Deer District property, it clearly resonated with fans coming out of the arena and leaving the plaza. Security, health and welfare are always our top priorities for our guests and employees and we appreciate the hard work of our security team to keep our fans safe.
In order to allow law enforcement to devote needed resources to the continued investigation of last night's events, we have decided to cancel tomorrow's planned watch party on the plaza. Deer District businesses will remain open as usual. We continue to work with the Milwaukee Police Department and other public safety partners to provide a safe and welcoming environment for our fans. We plan to have further details soon.
3 shootings in the span of 2 hours near Bucks arena
The first shooting occurred in the final minutes of Game 6, with thousands of Bucks fans gathered in the Deer District outside the arena to watch the potential series-clincher. Three people were wounded, including a 16-year-old girl, and a 19-year-old man was arrested by police.
The shooting was close enough to the Deer District to trigger a mass exodus of Bucks fans.
BREAKING: 1 adult male shot near MLK & Highland as @Bucks game ends. This is what we saw as fans ran from the area. @WISN12News pic.twitter.com/JE6Ax1OPsn
— Joyce Garbaciak WISN (@JoyceGarbaciak) May 14, 2022
The other two shootings reportedly occurred multiple blocks away from the arena, across the Milwaukee River at North Water Street near Highland Avenue, all within the span of two hours.
The first left only one person wounded, while the second wounded 17 people ranging in age from 17 to 45. Five of the victims were reportedly armed and taken into custody by police. Ten people, a group including both juveniles and adults, were reportedly arrested for the mass shooting. Nine guns were reportedly recovered.
The incidents were sadly not the first instances of gun violence seen near the Fiserv Forum this year. According to the Journal Sentinel, a chef was shot and killed at The Loaded Slate bar in April, while an employee at the Brownstone Social Lounge was killed and two others were wounded by a man who was being escorted away after being denied entry.
