Wauwatosa is a small suburban city just west of Milwaukee. Yesterday the Milwaukee County District Attorney sent a letter to the Wauwatosa police chief announcing that he would not be bringing charges against police officer Joseph Mensah (who is black) in the death of a black 17-year-old named Alvin Cole. Officer Mensah had been involved in two previous fatal shootings in the past five years. The reaction to the decision not to charge Mensah started as a peaceful protest but turned violent and destructive as it got later.
The Shooting of Alvin Cole
The shooting of Alvin Cole happened in February after Cole entered a local indoor mall with a group of friends. He was carrying a stolen gun which he’d posted a photo of himself holding (on Facebook) the previous night. Though only 17, Cole had prior felony convictions which made it illegal for him to possess a gun. At the mall, Cole got into an argument with an adult male and was flashing the gun inside the mall. Police were called because someone saw the gun.
Police arrived just as Cole and his friends were leaving the mall. The group ran and mall security and police chased them on foot. There was a shot fired as Cole was about to be caught by mall security. Police later determined he had shot himself in the left forearm. He went down on the ground as police surrounded him but was still holding the gun. Three different officers claim he pointed the gun in their direction. Officer Mensah claimed he saw the gun aimed toward him from under or over Cole’s shoulder and Mensah fired five shots. There is video of some of the incident which police assembled into the clip below. Police later discovered that the extended magazine was not in the gun, meaning the one shot Cole fired was the only one he could have fired.
After reviewing the facts, the DA wrote: “In this case, there is sufficient evidence that Officer Mensah had an actual subjective belief that deadly force was necessary and that belief was objectively reasonable. I do not believe that the State could disprove self-defense or defense of others in this case and therefore could not meet the burden
required to charge Officer Mensah.”
The Protests/Riots
Given the circumstances, the city of Wauwatosa issued a curfew starting last night at 7 pm. The Mayor issued a statement about the DA’s announcement which said in part: “Given recent events in Kenosha, Louisville, and other cities around the country, it should be clear that we all must do everything we can to keep our community peaceful. Violence is not the answer; it only impoverishes communities and brings more pain and despair.”
The WI national guard was called in to back up the police:
The WI National Guard has been called to support local law enforcement and ensure public safety in #Wauwatosa https://t.co/mRALxaPJ06 pic.twitter.com/jWgEOL3BzC
— CBS 58 News (@CBS58) October 7, 2020
The family of Alvin Cole went to meet with the DA. There was already a crowd assembled:
Alvin Cole’s family and @KimMotleysLaw wait to meet with Milwaukee County District Attorney. They’re met by a crowd of protesters supporting them and calling for the DA to convict @WauwatosaPD Officer Joseph Mensah @TMJ4 pic.twitter.com/Yj1qpCcglp
— Lauren Linder (@lauren_linder) October 7, 2020
After learning that the officer would not be charged, the family spoke to the media:
“Chisholm did not justify my son’s murder” – Tracy Cole on DA’s decision not to charge Officer Joseph Mensah in her son’s death @tmj4 pic.twitter.com/Kv6RLT6s2l
— Lauren Linder (@lauren_linder) October 7, 2020
“The fight continues, it doesn’t end here” – sister of Alvin Cole on DA’s decision not to charge @WauwatosaPD Officer Joseph Mensah @tmj4 #Mensah #Wauwatosa pic.twitter.com/Dcsx9n1URW
— Lauren Linder (@lauren_linder) October 7, 2020
An attorney for the family also spoke about the outcome of the case.
Earlier today: Lawyer for the Cole family talks about the DA’s decision in the Joseph Mensah case, with no charges filed though they ‘couldn’t justify the shooting’ #Wauwatosa #AlvinCole #MilwaukeeProtests #JosephMensah #Milwaukee pic.twitter.com/A0e5lQ31zr
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) October 8, 2020
And after that the protesters started to march:
Protesters are now leaving the Public Safety Building and marching down State Street in #Milwaukee @tmj4 #Mensah #Wauwatosa pic.twitter.com/ITX6bpVFNP
— Lauren Linder (@lauren_linder) October 7, 2020
Protesters soon took over part of the freeway:
The protesters just took the freeway here in Milwaukee. Not enough police to stop them #MilwaukeeProtests #AlvinCole #Wauwatosa #JosephMensah #Milwaukee pic.twitter.com/pU2a8SBjv4
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) October 7, 2020
Police eventually caught up with them and began making arrests:
Traffic stopped on I-94 West as protesters march onto the freeway. Police are chasing after them on foot and making arrests of stragglers in the back #MilwaukeeProtests #AlvinCole #Wauwatosa #JosephMensah #Milwaukee pic.twitter.com/Uht15c0kLa
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) October 7, 2020
Most of the protesters returned to the city streets and a new march began:
Many protesters made it off the highway without arrest, a march is now taking place through Milwaukee, with a car caravan to support #MilwaukeeProtests #AlvinCole #Wauwatosa #JosephMensah #Milwaukee pic.twitter.com/JVDlcr6XZk
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) October 7, 2020
As it got dark, things got ugly. I think this man is shouting, “Tear up the white folks’ s**t!”
Business owners yelling at the protesters as they march through #Wauwatosa #AlvinCole #MilwaukeeProtests #JosephMensah #Milwaukee pic.twitter.com/t261I3rufI
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) October 8, 2020
Shining lights into residents’ houses as the group makes its way towards Wauwatosa #Wauwatosa #AlvinCole #MilwaukeeProtests #JosephMensah #Milwaukee pic.twitter.com/ZOQ5aZy5NW
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) October 8, 2020
A massive Black Lives Matter caravan making its way through the neighborhood. Protest has been peaceful the last few hours as they march from Milwaukee to Wauwatosa #Wauwatosa #AlvinCole #MilwaukeeProtests #JosephMensah #Milwaukee pic.twitter.com/CYDhpj9Fsr
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) October 8, 2020
The group marches towards the line of police and National Guard in Wauwatosa #Wauwatosa #WauwatosaProtests #AlvinCole #JosephMensah pic.twitter.com/gnug9y9JyD
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) October 8, 2020
Things began to get violent:
On the ground in Wauwatosa for @townhallcom and some in the BLM crowd are smashing storefront windows. pic.twitter.com/rYwNrlmtMq
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) October 8, 2020
Rioters smashed the windows of businesses in Wauwatosa #Wauwatosa #WauwatosaProtests #WauwatosaRiots #AlvinCole #JosephMensah pic.twitter.com/E5fMXiDD90
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) October 8, 2020
A few people even threw rocks at the windows of private homes:
The BLM crowd marched towards a line of police officers in Wauwatosa and began to throw projectiles. Police fired tear gas and pepper balls in response. pic.twitter.com/VsHD0flYfX
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) October 8, 2020
At least one homeowner told the protesters to get off his lawn:
A man confronts protesters that have been walking and riding motorcycles over his lawn #Wauwatosa #WauwatosaProtests #AlvinCole #JosephMensah pic.twitter.com/BboDbkJleb
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) October 8, 2020
Here’s what the homeowner was complaining about:
Burnouts on the sidewalks as the crowd drowns out the man yelling about motorcycles on his lawn #Wauwatosa #WauwatosaProtests #AlvinCole #JosephMensah pic.twitter.com/2JFRIoiUaQ
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) October 8, 2020
I think this was a different home.
BLM protestor drives on the lawn with a motorcycle of a guy with an American flag. He pulls out a gun and closes his door. Protestors then break his window (didn't get that footage) #milwaukee #Wauwatosa pic.twitter.com/mlPYeLnNdd
— Blair Nelson (@realblairnelson) October 8, 2020
A group of people looted a gas station convenience store:
Gas station looting in Milwaukee #Wauwatosa #WauwatosaProtests #WauwatosaRiots #AlvinCole #JosephMensah pic.twitter.com/TeK7WMcDf4
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) October 8, 2020
Coffee station toppled inside Speedway as another night of unrest in Wisconsin continues #Wauwatosa #MilwaukeeProtests #AlvinCole #JosephMensah #Milwaukee pic.twitter.com/koIwytjCm1
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) October 8, 2020
Speedway left in complete catastrophe after tonight’s looting. Police arrive to disperse the crowd #Milwaukee #Wauwatosa #AlvinCole #JosephMensa pic.twitter.com/fn7LbTF5di
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) October 8, 2020
Apparently a news crew fled from the crowd by driving on a sidewalk:
Protesters chased one of the mainstream news outlets off the scene. They rode their Yukon up on people’s’ lawns and the sidewalks as they darted away #Milwaukee #Wauwatosa #MilwaukeeProtests #AlvinCole #JosephMensah pic.twitter.com/hHbNDmYzqH
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) October 8, 2020
Guns out on the streets of Milwaukee tonight #Milwaukee #Wauwatosa #MilwaukeeProtests #AlvinCole #JosephMensah pic.twitter.com/wk981fV5hV
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) October 8, 2020
Spray-painting BLM on the SWAT Bearcat #Milwaukee #Wauwatosa #MilwaukeeProtests #BLM #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/LMGTolhYVg
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) October 8, 2020
This morning, Julio Rosas captured video of some of the damage:
A closer look of the damage at the private residences that were targeted last night by rioters in Wauwatosa. pic.twitter.com/T3OHh1HT1x
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) October 8, 2020
Police declared an unlawful assembly but that and the curfew obviously didn’t succeed in preventing things from turning violent last night. Here’s the police video laying out the facts of the shooting. The Wauwatosa PD is scheduled to get body cameras next year but did not have them at the time of this shooting which is why police had to rely on cameras mounted in the patrol cars.
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