No one was shot by the gunman, who was attempting to rob the VIP room.
A 38-year old man is said to have opened fire with a handgun inside a Milwaukee casino early Friday morning, police say. The shots were fired around 2:30 am in the morning at the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino.
No one was hit by a bullet as the man fired. Several gamblers panicked and fled to the doors of the casino and received minor injuries from bumps and falls in the ensuing chaos.
After firing wildly, the suspect is said to have moved to a different par of the casino. He was taken into custody without further incident after the Milwaukee Police Department arrived on the scene. Police say the MPD officers were helped by the security staff of the Potawatomi Casino in finding the man inside the casino.
Eyewitness to the Crime
Greg Weinart, who was inside the casino at the time of the gun play, said he was near the high-roller room where the suspect is said to have started firing. Weinart said he ducked behind a slot machine, hoping to take cover.
The gambler spoke of the confusion in the casino at the time the shots were fired. Mr. Weinart said, “I literally ducked behind the machine.”
While he was hiding, Weinart said he witnessed the gunman’s actions. He suggested that the gunman was trying to rob patrons in the VIP section. Weinart said, “The guy pulled a gun, made all the people lay down, empty their pockets, took all their tokens [and] their money, and then started shooting.”
Lingering Terror
In this day and age, those involved in a public shooting have to wonder about terrorist attacks or gang violence. No terrorist attacks have happened in casinos, but biker gangs had a shootout in a Reno casino in 2012. Several of the patrons at the casino spoke of the remaining terror at the incident, despite their knowledge that the man is secure in custody. Sue Te Sroete, a customer at the casino, spoke to Fox 6 News of her terror on Friday Morning.
Sue Te Sroete says she ran for the exit, while dozens of others dropped to the floor or hid behind gaming tables or gaming machines. Te Sroete said she “heard the gunshots and yelling and people yelling at me to get down. But I just started running.”
Potawatami to Consider Arming Its Security
Officials at the Potawatomi Casino said they would look into measures to prevent such incidents in the future. Ryan Amundson, a spokesperson for the Potawatomi Casino, said every legal option will be considered by management. He told reporters, “I don’t think we’ll take anything off the table.”
Amundson said the casino would look at metal detectors to screen for guns at the door of the casino. He said the casino would even consider arming its security, if that appears to be what’s needed to keep patrons safe.
Safety Measures Already in Place
While admitting measures might be needed to assure no more armed robberies take place, Ryan Amundson pointed out that the casino already has a number of safety measures in place. He discussed those measures to the local media, saying, “We look at IDs of people that come in, we train our staff to look for suspicious behavior and intoxication, and also contract with the Milwaukee Police Department.”
Gregory Harmon Shooting in 2013
This is the second shooting in a 3-year span for the Potawatomi Casino. On Father’s Day in 2013, 27-year old Gregory Harmon of Wauwatosa fired a handgun at a 23-year-old Milwaukee woman. The shots grazed another patron. Harmon pulled a gun after a verbal altercation began between Harmon and two men who were accompanying the women who was shot.
