The Wild, Wild Midwest

Milwaukee is living up to its title as one of the nation's violent crime hubs.

From The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, John Diedrich writes:

Two people were killed, a third was shot but survived and police officers exchanged gunfire with robbers in a spasm of violence on Milwaukee's streets overnight, police said.

At 9 p.m., police found a 17-year-old male dead with a wound to the head in 2900 block of N. 22nd St. Police aren't sure if he was shot, stabbed or beaten.

...Just after midnight, a man, 21, was found shot to death in the 2700 block of N. 54th St. Police were not releasing any information on a motive or suspect.

At 8 p.m., a 42-year-old man was shot in the buttocks in the 6300 block of W. Kaul Ave. He is expected to survive. Police are looking for a known suspect.

At 7:30 p.m., officers were near W. Capitol and N. Teutonia avenues investigating a sandwich store robbery when another robbery occurred at a nearby Walgreens, police said.

The officers spotted the robber and there was an exchange of gunfire with one officer and the robber firing, police said. Apparently, no one was hit. The robber escaped.

Another night, more bloodshed and death in Milwaukee.

Same old, same old.

I suppose Mayor Tom Barrett is outraged. That's his plan -- to hold news conferences and say he's angry and the violence has to stop.

I wonder how Police Chief Nan Hegerty's crime study group is going.

It's Christmastime in the city.