The Milwaukee Bucks have cancelled Sunday’s outdoor watch party ahead of game seven after multiple shootings left 21 people injured after game six on Friday night. Fans are typically able to watch the game on a big screen not far from the Bucks’ arena in the “Deer District.” Milwaukee, like most U.S. cities, has seen a large spike in violent crime since 2020.
A spokesman for Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said in a text that the team decided to cancel the event “after consultation with the city and public safety agencies.”
“The shootings that happened in downtown Milwaukee last night were horrific and we condemn this devastating violence,” the team added in a follow-up statement. Team officials said the watch party was cancelled in order to allow law enforcement to devote needed resources to the continued investigation of [Friday’s] events.”
The watch party was expected to draw over 10,000 fans, according to ESPN. This is in addition to the 19,000 fans who were inside Fiserv Forum for game six of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals against the Boston Celtics.
Three people were injured in the first shooting outside Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum towards the end of Friday night’s game. The gunshots also triggered a stampede that left scores more injured.
Another person was later injured in a second shooting before a third shooting less than a mile from the arena left 17 people with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
Shooting near the Deer District in Milwaukee. Stay Safe out there people
The streets were ratchet tonight pic.twitter.com/PYZ2WLuOFd— Matt Painter I (@MursePainter) May 14, 2022
Additional shooting in Milwaukee, this one on Water St pic.twitter.com/PditGtLPB4
— Matt Painter I (@MursePainter) May 14, 2022
A man and a 16-year-old girl who were injured in the first shooting were transported to a local hospital Friday night, while a third person drove there, according to ESPN. All three have been treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
A 19-year-old man was taken into custody in connection with the first shooting. No arrest has been made in the second shooting, according to Assistant Police Chief Nicole Waldner.
At least 10 people have been arrested in connection with the third shooting. Police ultimately recovered nine firearms from the scene and described the incident as an exchange of gunfire between two groups of people.
Mayor Johnson said the city imposed a curfew for the downtown area requiring everyone age 20 or younger to be off the street by 11 p.m. for Saturday and Sunday. Milwaukee police have also planned extra patrols.
“We cannot have that in this city, nor anywhere else in this state, nor anywhere else in this country,” Johnson said.
As of today, Milwaukee has recorded 74 homicides in 2022, up from 55 as of the same date in 2021. The city ultimately registered a record 194 homicides in 2021.