Milwaukee’s downtown entertainment district, a space to celebrate and come together as a city, was rocked by gun violence Friday night after three shootings left at least 21 people wounded — including 17 shot in one incident.

Hours later, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson imposed a curfew in the area for Saturday and Sunday nights.

“We’re going to do something about what happened here in this neighborhood last night,” Johnson said at downtown’s Red Arrow Park. “It will not be tolerated.”

The violence hit an entertainment district that has been battered by two years of the pandemic and other high-profile incidents of gun violence, including two homicides earlier this year.

On Friday night, 11,000 people gathered at the Deer District outside of Fiserv Forum where the Milwaukee Bucks lost to the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinal playoff.

By Saturday morning, police evidence markers, trash and personal belongings like shoes and combs could be seen along Water Street. Blood dotted the sidewalks.

“It […]