Man fatally shot by Milwaukee police could not legally have a gun.
A man who Milwaukee police say was armed with a gun when officers shot and killed him was not legally allowed to have a firearm, court records show.
The 48-year-old man drew a gun during a traffic stop on the city’s near south side, Police Chief Alfonso Morales said Monday evening at a news conference shortly after the shooting.
The man was wanted on a warrant in a felony domestic abuse case and probation violations. He had fled from officers earlier in the day, Morales said.
The shooting involved uniformed officers, Morales said, meaning they likely were equipped with body cameras, but police officials have not said if the shooting was recorded on body camera footage or by a squad car dash camera.
The Police Department also has not said how many shots were fired and has not publicly identified the man who was killed or the two officers involved, other than to provide the officers’ ages and years of service.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the department had declined to release further information surrounding the shooting.
The shooting is being investigated
by the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team, in accordance with state law that requires outside investigators to lead probes of fatal police shootings.
The man who was shot and killed was identified as Mario A. Hobson, a source told the Journal Sentinel.
His daughter told WISN-TV that Hobson had a history of suicidal thoughts and mental health problems. She could not be reached for further comment Tuesday.
It’s unclear if Hobson sought mental health treatment based on court records available Tuesday. The records show Hobson’s attorneys in his prior court cases did not raise his mental health or competency during those proceedings.
Warrant issued in July
A warrant was issued for Hobson’s arrest on July 29 when he was charged with felony battery, according to online court records.
According to the criminal complaint, Hobson approached his ex-wife July 21 while she was walking with friends in the 2300 block of North King Drive. Hobson pulled up to her in his car and grabbed both of her arms. He punched her in the head twice and grabbed her by the neck, leaving scratch marks.
In June 2017, he was convicted of misdemeanor disorderly conduct with a domestic violence modifier.
According to the complaint, Hobson and his then-wife got into an argument while driving. She ran from the vehicle and he chased her. Hobson’s wife was asking for help from a car passing by when Hobson pulled up, pointed a gun at the car and said, “You (expletive) better keep going.”
When Hobson’s wife heard tires squeal and saw Hobson’s car driving toward her, she pulled out a gun and fired two shots at the vehicle, the complaint says.
Hobson was convicted in 2005 of felony possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, making it illegal for him to have a gun.