SHOREWOOD, Wis. — A police officer was among three people who were shot in Shorewood on the morning of July 3.

What You Need To Know

  • A police officer, who was one of three people shot in Shorewood early Thursday morning, has already been released from the hospital, and officials said the officer's ballistic vest played a crucial role

  • The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner confirmed Victoria Truss, 34, died from near Bartlett Avenue and East Wood Place; the medical examiner identified a preliminary cause of death as homicide

  • The condition of the other individual who was shot was unknown

  • Police located a suspect, now identified as 34-year-old Shorewood resident Michael Griffin Jr., who led them on a vehicle pursuit and began shooting at officers; he was later shot by officers and died, authorities said

Shorewood Police Department said it was investigating the shooting that happened within the 4000-4200 block of N. Bartlett Avenue.

Shorewood Police Chief Heather Wurth said officers responded around 2:50 a.m. and had received a call from a victim that had been shot.

As officers responded, one of the squads took fire from the suspect, police said. At least two rounds hit the windshield, another round went into the passenger side of vehicle and one officer took a round into the vest.

The officer who was shot was released from the hospital, and officials said the ballistic vest played a crucial role in that.

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner confirmed Victoria Truss, 34, died Friday morning near Bartlett Avenue and East Wood Place. The medical examiner identified a preliminary cause of death as homicide. 

The condition of the other person who was shot is unknown.

The shooting led police on a search for the suspect, now identified as 34-year-old Shorewood resident Michael Griffin Jr.. At around 9:23 a.m. on July 3, officers located the suspect in a vehicle. The suspect then led officers on a chase while taking shots at the officers who were pursuing him, according to authorities. 

The chase ended near West Reservoir Avenue and North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Milwaukee. Griffin Jr. was still firing shots at officers and mutliple officers returned fire, eventually hitting Griffin Jr., who then died, police said. 

No officers were injured during the chase and those involved will be placed on leave per agency policy.

This officer shooting came just a week after two Milwaukee police officers were shot, with one dying from injuries.

“I just want to state how incredibly challenging a situation like this is given the circumstances that Milwaukee is facing,” said Wurth. “And the risks our officers are facing doing their job every single day, the inherent risks and the attacks they’re under, the violence in this community, Milwaukee, Shorewood and the attacks against our officers has got to stop — it’s gotta stop.”

Wurth said they need the community’s help now more than ever to end the “tragic violence.”

“We know people have guns illegally, and we need reports that that’s occurring,” she said.

Wurth said her heart goes out to the men and women doing the job of responding to scenes like this. She also expressed sympathy for the victims in the shooting.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice  Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation. 

"As this is an ongoing investigation, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation will not be providing additional information at this time," DCI said. 

The Oak Creek Police Department requested that anyone with information on the shooting reach out to Detective Gary Schneider at gschneider@oakcreekwi.gov or 414-766-7628.

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