Advertisement Officer shot in 'vicious' attack on Milwaukee's south side, suspect dead Brandon Baranowski 'saved by his vest,' assistant police chief says Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A Milwaukee police officer was shot multiple times early Sunday as he sat in his squad car while colleagues investigated a domestic disturbance call, an official said. The suspected shooter, identified Monday as Tomas A. Uriegas, was found dead in a nearby yard, they said.The incident began as a response to a domestic disturbance call near South 17th Street and West Morgan Avenue at about 2 a.m. During that investigation, an officer was "attacked viciously" by someone who fired shots into his squad car, striking the officer multiple times," Asst. Police Chief William Jessup said in a morning press conference. Milwaukee mayor: Citizen-police relationship must be reassessedOfficer Brandon Baranowski, a 31-year-old man with 13 years of service, was taken to Froedtert Hospital for surgery. Milwaukee police Sergeant Tim Gauerke said the injuries were not life-threatening."This is just another example of the risks our officers take each and every day to protect these citizens," Jessup said. It was Baranowski's bullet-proof vest that saved his life, Jessup explained at a Sunday Homicide Review Commission conference.VIDEO: Assistant police chief: officer 'saved by his vest'While investigating that shooting, officers on the scene heard gunshots and discovered the body of a young man in a nearby yard, Jessup said. That man is the same person who was involved in both the domestic incident and the shooting of the police officer, police said.He said it appeared Uriegas' death was a suicide.Neighbor Katie Kalski said she heard two gunshots and expressed shock by the violence near her home. "This neighborhood -- stuff like that doesn't happen. We live in a pretty safe neighborhood. So for something like this to happen -- it's bad. It's terrible," she said. Scott Hansen left his home near the scene to find out what was going on. Officers, at first, believed Hansen to be the shooting suspect. Later, they allowed him to return home."It was tense, and they handled it well," Hansen said. "Absolutely, I want to thank the police for putting their lives on the line for us and being out there and protecting us each and everyday."Police commanders have since instructed all Milwaukee officers to respond to calls in two-person squads until further notice.Jessup did not have any immediate information about whether any video evidence from the squad car's dash cam or the officer's body camera existed. The SUV where the officer was hit was towed from the scene around 9 a.m.Storyline: Officer Brandon Baranowski Shooting