National Guard Will Be Activated But Not Deployed in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE, WI — The National Guard has been activated, and 125 Guard soldiers are on their way to Milwaukee to serve at the direction of the police chief, the mayor announced Sunday after speaking with Gov. Scott Walker.

"Gov. Walker and I have had our political differences over the years. But we talked about what happened here, what happened in Ferguson, Missouri, what happened in Maryland," Mayor Tom Barrett sat at a 2:40 p.m. press conference. "The National Guard will be activated, but it will not be deployed unless Chief (Edward) Flynn decides to deploy it."

Earlier in the day, Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. announced that he had asked the governor to consider calling up the Guard after Saturday night's riots over an officer-involved shooting.

Barrett also said the the man who was shot and killed by a police officer Saturday afternoon had a handgun in his hand. The gun was loaded with 23 rounds, Barrett said, more ammunition than the officer had in his own weapon. The officer fired, Barrett said, when the man refused orders to drop the gun.

"Last night was unlike anything I have ever seen in my adult life in this city. I hope I never see it again," Barrett said, noting that "not a single shot was fired" by police during the chaos in the streets following the shooting.

Four police officers were injured during the looting, shooting, fires and rock throwing that took place Saturday night and early Sunday morning. One 16-year-old female was wounded by a stray bullet, according to police.

Flynn identified the man shot by the police officer as Sylville K. Smith, 23, who has a lengthy arrest record with the Milwaukee police. Flynn said the incident between Smith and the officer who shot him lasted half a minute. The events were recorded on the officer's body camera.

The mayor said he would like to see the video released as soon as possible.

Flynn also said the following arrests were made Saturday: Eight adult males, three adult females and two juvenile males were charged with disorderly conduct; three adult males and one juvenile male were charged with burglary.

Related: Milwaukee Shooting: Fires, Gunshots, Looting After Police Kill Armed Suspect

Photo: Milwaukee Police