REGIONAL BRIEFING

Crash injures officer before squad car is fired upon downtown

Shots were fired at an unmarked squad car and a police officer was injured early Tuesday after officers encountered two vehicles racing on Wisconsin Ave.

The officers — detectives, ages 39 and 43, with the sensitive crimes division — were driving north on James Lovell St. about 3:20 a.m. when they saw “two reckless vehicles” heading west through the intersection in the 700 block of W. Wisconsin Ave., police said in a news release.

One of the vehicles, a Chrysler 200, was traveling in the wrong traffic lane.

The vehicles blew through a red light and the Chrysler struck the police officers’ car and lost control. The Chrysler then crashed into a jewelry store in the 700 block of W. Wisconsin Ave.

“The driver of the wrecked vehicle exited that car and was picked up by the driver of the second vehicle that then fled,” the release said.

“As that vehicle fled, an occupant fired multiple shots at the detectives with one of the shots striking the unmarked squad car.”

The 43-year-old officer was taken to a hospital for minor injuries suffered in the crash. He was treated and released. The second officer was not injured.

Police release names of two men killed in separate shootings

A man fatally shot on Milwaukee’s south side Monday was identified by police Tuesday as Ricky D. Riggins, 44.

The shooting was reported shortly after 3 a.m. Monday in the 1400 block of W. Mineral St., according to police, who were seeking suspects Tuesday.

And a Milwaukee man who was shot Saturday on the city’s northwest side and died Monday has been identified by police as Melvin Vinson, 54.

Vinson was shot by an acquaintance shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday in the 9000 block of N. 95th St., according to police, who were seeking a known male suspect.

Journal Sentinel staff