Kenosha bar shooting: Black male suspect sought in the incident that left 3 dead, 2 seriously injured
KENOSHA, WISCONSIN: Three people have been declared dead and two others are critically injured with gunshot wounds in a shooting incident at The Somers House Tavern in Wisconsin, according to the Kenosha county sheriff's department. The shooting happened inside the tavern, and the first 911 call reportedly came in at 12:42 am on Sunday morning on April 18.
The two gravely injured victims were taken to local hospitals. The suspect in the shooting has yet to be located according to Sergeant David Wright, spokesperson for the sheriff's department. The shooting investigation is currently active and an ongoing one. Anyone with any information about the incident has been asked to contact the sheriff's department.
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Suspect is Black male
"The suspect is described as a Black male over six feet tall wearing a light-colored hooded sweatshirt," Sergeant Wright said in a media release to the press. "This appears to be a targeted and isolated incident. We do not believe there is a threat to the community at this time. The names, ages, and cities of residence for the victims are still being determined."
A public safety alert was also sent out shortly after the incident. "There is an active criminal investigation in the area of Sheridan Road and 15th Place. The suspect is still at large. Please report any suspicious activity to 911," the alert read.
The victims were not immediately identified at the scene of the shooting, according to the police report. A local newspaper said that the tavern was popular among Carthage College students who thronged the place regularly. Peter Ploskee who lives across the street fron the bar said he woke up to the sounds of three gunshots. He looked out of his window and saw people panicking and running in all directions.
Ploskee detailed the incident saying he saw people exchanging gunfire over a car and then run down 15th Street on the east side of Sheridan Road (Highway 32) and heard the gunfire continue there. The sheriff’s department has evidence markers along 15th Street. Ploskee also saw a dead body lying under a sheet in front of the bar and said he heard that another dead person was found in the patio of the bar.
The suspect apparently knew the victims and targeted them although it's not clear whether the victims knew him. The shooting happened after the suspect was asked to leave the bar, which he did. But then, he returned shortly after and opened fire. Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth in a press conference held early on Sunday morning on April 18, said, “I’m led to believe there was some type of confrontation inside, the management asked that person to leave and then that person came back a short time later and shot people."
Beth revealed five people were shot. “Two died at the scene,” Beth said. The third person was being taken to a nearby hospital in a car by two other people. “They then went down in front of the old St Cat’s (a former hospital on the 3500 block of Sheridan Road) and flagged down a deputy. That person then passed away," Sheriff Beth said. Beth left open the possibility that more than one suspect is responsible for this incident and said he believed at least one handgun was used.