Gunfire Rang Out During the Burial Service. 2 Were Hit

A juvenile was among the injured after shooting at funeral in Racine, Wis.
By Bob Cronin,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 2, 2022 6:47 PM CDT
Updated Jun 3, 2022 10:45 AM CDT
Gunfire at Cemetery Hits Multiple People
Law enforcement officers examine a bloody garment at Graceland Cemetery on Thursday in Racine, Wis.   (Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP)

Update: After murky initial reports, police now confirm to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that two people at a cemetery in Racine, Wisconsin, were hit when gunfire rang out during a burial service on Thursday. Sgt. Kristi Wilcox tells TMJ4 that one of the injured individuals was flown to a Milwaukee hospital; that person's condition is unclear. The second injured person, a juvenile, was treated and released, per Wilcox. A family member who was at the funeral told TMJ4 shortly after the shooting that five people had been shot. Despite their official statement, Racine police don't dispute that, noting that not everyone may have reported relatively minor injuries. Police are asking anyone with footage of the incident to come forward, while the city of Racine has imposed a curfew of 11pm through the weekend for anyone under 18. Our original story from Thursday follows:

Gunfire erupted during a burial service at a cemetery in southeast Wisconsin on Thursday, and police said multiple people were shot. "There are victims but unknown how many at this time," a statement by Racine police said, per NBC News. A hospital next to the cemetery said victims were being treated there, the AP reports. A woman who was in a backyard across the street from the cemetery with children and other relatives said she heard 20 to 30 bullets were fired in a barrage, then a handful of single shots. Then, Alissa Miller said, she heard screams. "It was terrified, horrific screaming," Miller said. "It was unmistakable."

The service was for Da'Shontay L. King Sr., who was shot to death by police two weeks ago in a traffic stop, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Racine officer said they had a search warrant for King's car and shot him when he ran away. They said he had a handgun. King's sister was at the cemetery Thursday. "We were at the gravesite trying to get prepared to bury him, and bullets started flying everywhere," Natasha Mullen said. (More mass shootings stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X