Heavy Police Presence at Milwaukee’s Zeidler Municipal Building Amid Reports of Gunfire

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — A significant police response unfolded at the Zeidler Municipal Building in downtown Milwaukee on Thursday afternoon, May 15, 2025, following reports of shots fired inside the administrative hub. The Milwaukee Mayor’s Office confirmed the incident, prompting a lockdown of the Zeidler building and nearby City Hall as authorities worked to secure the area.

According to Jeff Fleming, press secretary for Mayor Cavalier Johnson, gunfire was reported on the fourth floor of the Zeidler Municipal Building, located at 841 North Broadway, around 3:15 p.m. CDT. “Shots were fired inside the Zeidler Municipal Building in downtown Milwaukee,” Fleming stated, as reported by WISN 12 News. The building, which houses various city departments including the City Attorney’s Office, was immediately placed on lockdown, with staff and visitors ordered to shelter in place.

Witnesses described a rapid and robust police response, with officers arriving equipped with shields and drawn firearms. “I’ve seen police officers running in with guns drawn and shields,” said Alison Dirr, a reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who was on the scene alongside colleague Mary Spicuzza. More than half a dozen squad cars, a tactical vehicle, and several police motorcycles converged on the building within minutes, with yellow police tape cordoning off the area.

As of 3:45 p.m., workers were seen evacuating the building, and police were conducting a thorough search of the premises. No ambulances were observed at the scene, and it remains unclear whether anyone was injured. Two employees, who had returned from a break, reported finding police clustered around the Broadway entrance but provided no further details.

Unconfirmed reports from three sources cited by WISN 12 News suggested the shooter may have been a former city employee who was recently terminated and returned to the building armed. However, Milwaukee police have not officially corroborated this information, and the investigation remains ongoing.

City Hall, located nearby at Water Street and Kilbourn Avenue, was also placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure. Staff inside City Hall received shelter-in-place orders via the public address system. “City buildings are public buildings that are open to anyone. This is the people’s house where everyone is welcome,” a city official noted, underscoring the open nature of the facilities involved.

The Milwaukee Police Department has not released additional details, and the public is urged to avoid the area while the situation is resolved. “We’ll have a story posting soon as we work to gather information,” said Journal Sentinel reporter Emily Richards, whose team observed the escalating police presence from across the street.

This developing story comes amid heightened public safety concerns in Milwaukee, with the city grappling with a 20% increase in total crime and a significant rise in homicides since 2020, according to a 2022 MacIver Institute report. The Milwaukee Police Department, with approximately 1,800 sworn officers, continues to face challenges in addressing crime while maintaining public trust.

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