Police: Shots fired near vigil for Madison’s fourth homicide of ’17

Site staff by Site Contributor

The Madison Police Department said gunshots were fired Saturday night at a vigil honoring the victim of Madison’s fourth homicide of 2017.

The incident happened around 10:15 p.m. in the 900 block of Vernon Avenue, where a 25-year-old man was shot and killed the night prior.

While the vigil group was at the location of the homicide, police said a vehicle approached and several shots were fired. Responding officers located shell casings in the street close to where the group was holding the vigil.

Police said they also located a vehicle and a nearby residence with damage that appeared to be from the gunfire. However, they reported it is unknown if this damage was the result of the incident.

There were no reported injuries, police said.

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A man was killed early Saturday in a shooting on the east side, Madison Police Chief Mike Koval said at an afternoon press conference.

The 25-year-old victim died in the hospital after suffering several gunshot wounds, Koval said. He was from the west side and had children.

Dispatchers said they received a call at 3:24 a.m. about gunfire in the 900 block of Vernon Avenue, just off of Cottage Grove Road. When police arrived on scene, witnesses said the gunman had opened fire, shooting multiple rounds at vehicles in the area.

Police reported bullets hit several vehicles and an apartment door. There have been no reports of additional injuries.

Officers raided a nearby home on Vernon Avenue Saturday afternoon in connection with a drug search warrant, but Koval couldn’t confirm whether that raid was related to the shooting. Koval later said an arrest was made on a drug charge unrelated to the homicide.

Madison police said they are unsure if this was a targeted shooting. They are looking through surveillance video from the parking lot area where the shooting happened, Koval said.

This is Madison’s fourth homicide this year.

The Madison Police Department incident report stated that the suspect in the shooting is a black male with a thin build. He is in his 20s and was wearing black clothing, police said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014.

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