Shots at the Boys & Girls Club

Isn't the Boys & Girls Club supposed to be a place for kids to go to keep them out of trouble, providing a safe, positive environment?

That wasn't the case in Milwaukee around 1:30 AM on Sunday.

From TMJ4:

More than 100 children and teens were hanging out inside the Boys& Girls Club when someone opened fire inside. It happened early Sunday in the center near Sherman and Burleigh.

...Police say an unarmed security guard saw the man pull out a gun. That guard ran after the gunman, they wrestled, two shots were fired then the guard was able to get the gunman out the door.

Witnesses believe the gunman and his accomplices took off in a black SUV.

And from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Two gunshots were fired early this morning inside the Mary Ryan Branch of the Boys & Girls Club in the 3000 block of N. Sherman Blvd., police said.

No one was hit in the gunfire, which was reported around 1:30 a.m. while several dozen juveniles were attending a party there, Milwaukee police Capt. David Zibolski said.

Police are seeking two male suspects between the ages of 17 and 19 who were attending the gathering. A security guard observed one of the suspect's carrying a gun and pursued the man, Zibolski said. The suspects fled from the scene after shots were fired.

Doesn't Milwaukee have a curfew?

Why, yes! It does!

Seventeen-year-old David Pflughoeft writes at OnMilwaukee.com:

The curfew for anyone under 17 in Milwaukee is 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends.

The fine for violating the curfew is a $74 ticket for juveniles. The individual is a court appearance and may be given an alternate program such as community service. If the individual doesn't show in court, his/her driver's license will be suspended.

There is also an ordinance in Milwaukee that allows officers to give the juvenile's parents a $125 responsibility citation for letting the child stay out past curfew. Because the juvenile often doesn't have a job, the parents sometimes get saddled with paying both tickets.

Banks said more tickets are given to parents because police want moms and dads to understand the importance of curfew because of all the dangers young people face at night. Banks believes that while everyone knows there is a curfew, not all know the specifics.

Lt. Banks said the police department actively enforces curfew, conducting regular sweeps to look for juveniles out past curfew. Officers, he notes, are proactive in working with the kids, especially kids that come from broken homes or other tough situations, to help them understand that the curfew was put in place to help protect them from the dangers of the street at night.

There are exceptions to the curfew, including one that allows juveniles to return home from work or babysitting.

Something to consider: Why is the Boys & Girls Club sponsoring a party for juveniles at that time of night?

The shots were fired at 1:30 AM.

Unless adults would be escorting the juveniles home or it was an overnight lock-in event, that party placed juveniles in violation of Milwaukee's curfew.

There are other issues to consider:

Security at the Boys & Girls Club-- The place needs metal detectors.

The unarmed security guard-- The suspects probably knew that the guard was unarmed.

The fact that individuals would fire a weapon INSIDE the Club-- It's far from being a sanctuary for juveniles; at least it wasn't early on Sunday morning.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee are supposed to be "the positive place for kids," "where potential meets opportunity."

It's really a sad thing when thugs violate a place meant "to inspire and empower all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens."

Sometimes, it seems so hopeless, total dysfunction.

Don't tell me there's no crime crisis in Milwaukee. It's a mess.