Milwaukee Police Officer Dead After Shootout With Teen Robbery Suspect

A Milwaukee police officer died after he was shot by a teen robbery suspect early Tuesday near 14th and Cleveland on the city's south side.

According to Fox 6, police officer Peter Jerving, 37, was shot while struggling with 19-year-old suspect Terrell Thompson, who died at the scene. Officers were reportedly called to 14th and Cleveland at around 1:15 a.m. in response to a report about a man wanted for a robbery.

Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said the man was wanted for a robbery near Teutonia and Good Hope Road that happened late Monday. Norman identified the man as Thompson.

Norman said police saw Thompson, but he ran off. During a scuffle with authorities, after they caught up to him, Norman noted that Thompson shot Jerving, who then fired back, hitting Thompson.

The robbery suspect died at the scene. The chief said the wounded officer died at a hospital. He noted that Jerving had four years of service with the Milwaukee Police Department.

"Milwaukee, our hearts are heavy. Milwaukee Police Department hearts are heavy. My heart is heavy," Norman noted. "One of our finest who put on that uniform, put on that badge, went into work last night and paid the ultimate sacrifice for protecting our community. Milwaukee, we need your prayers. We need your support."

What Led to the Shooting That Killed Milwaukee Police Officer Peter Jerving?

According to Jeffrey Norman, several officers from Police District 4 on the city's northwest side were looking for the robbery suspect near the 2700 block of South 14th Street before the shooting incident.

A robbery had occurred at about 11:25 p.m. Monday on West Good Hope Road, close to where it meets North Teutonia Avenue. Norman noted that the 19-year-old suspect, who was on the south side, disobeyed orders and fled from police.

According to Norman and Milwaukee Police Association President Andrew Wagner, after one officer cornered the suspect, a fight began, and the suspect fired a revolver, striking a second officer who had run over to help.

Norman said the second cop, who was officer Peter Jerving, fired back after being shot, and he ultimately succumbed to his wounds in the hospital. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that the information released early Tuesday was preliminary. The Brookfield Police Department is leading the investigation.

Who is Terrel Thompson?

Jeffrey Norman confirmed that Terrell Thompson shot Milwaukee police officer Peter Jerving. The Journal Sentinel also received confirmation from Thompson's family later on Tuesday. His mother expressed disbelief at the news.

Thompson appeared in court on Monday for a 2021 case and entered a guilty plea to causing a hit-and-run. According to the official court documents, Judge Christopher Dee initially sentenced Thompson to 120 days in the House of Correction but later suspended that sentence in favor of 12 months of probation.

If Thompson broke his probation, then he would have to serve time. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson noted that everyone, not just the police, had to do their part to reduce gun violence and make the city safer, Fox 10 reported. The mayor also referred to Thompson when he spoke about the importance of people in the community helping one another.

"Somebody that age, 19 years old, they're probably getting up from somebody's couch, and somebody knows they're out here doing things," the mayor said. "We need you to speak up. We need you to be engaged because if you are not, this is the deadly consequence we see. It's a police officer dead. It's somebody else who ends up getting injured or hurt because of violence like this on the street."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Police Officer Fatally Shot While Trying to Arrest Armed Robbery Suspect - From TMJ4 News