MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee BucksWe have cancelled the watch party for Sunday’s Game 7 vs. the Boston CelticsAfter the Bucks’ 6th game loss, 21 people were wounded in three shootings close to an entertainment district in downtown Milwaukee. Boston CelticsOn Friday night, the NBA Eastern Conference semi-finals will be held.
Cavalier Johnson’s spokesman said that the Milwaukee Mayor had consulted with public safety agencies and decided to cancel the event.
The Deer District party was likely to have drawn over 10,000 people. The Bucks claimed 11,000 people attended the Game 6 watch party while more than 19,000 were at Fiserv Forum.
“The shootings that took place in downtown Milwaukee last evening were horrendous and we condemn these horrific acts of violence,” the Bucks stated in a statement. The watch party was cancelled “to allow law enforcement to continue investigating last night’s events,” however, it noted that businesses in the Deer District will still be open.
Near the Fiserv Forum in Deer District, three people were shot. This sent fans running through the streets. Police said that one person was wounded in the second shooting, while 17 others sustained non-life-threatening injuries less than a mile away from the arena.
According to the Milwaukee Fire Department a man (16 years old) and a girl (16 years old) were both seriously injured in Friday’s shooting. The girls were taken to a local hospital, while the third person drove to that location. All three suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Police stated that a 19 year-old male was in custody at the time of the shooting. These charges are currently being reviewed by the Milwaukee County prosecutor’s office. Assistant Police Chief Nicole Waldner reported that no arrests were made in relation to the second shooting.
Police say that the third shooting resulted in nine firearms being recovered and ten people taken into custody.
“What makes people believe that they can just have an argument on a street or in the entertainment district? Regardless of whether police are present?” Waldner stated this at a noon press conference.
Waldner stated that five victims of the third shooting were arm-wounded and that 10 people were taken into custody.
Johnson stated that the city has imposed a curfew in the downtown area, requiring anyone 20 years old or younger to leave the streets by 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Additional police patrols are also planned.
Johnson stated, “We cannot have it in this city, nor any other place in the state, or anywhere else in the country.”
Milwaukee Police did not confirm whether the shootings were connected. Investigations are ongoing.
During the team’s run for the NBA championship, Bucks fans started to pack into Deer District. Friday saw the Eastern Conference semifinal series match against the Celtics. Fans were excited to be able to continue the tradition on Friday, after a hot day and a long winter. The team had placed metal detectors around the bars and the entrance to the arena.
The first shooting occurred outside of that perimeter, approximately one block from Fiserv Forum.
Witnesses outside the arena reported hearing gunshots just over a minute into the fourth quarter of Boston’s 108-95 win. This tied the series 3-3.
After the game, there was a large police presence outside. There were also police tapes at several intersections.
Jamal Collier of ESPN and The Associated PressContributed to this report.