54th and Capitol police standoff ends; 1 in custody

MILWAUKEE - A heavy police presence formed outside the Hayat Pharmacy at 54th and Capitol in Milwaukee on Wednesday afternoon, May 22.

Pharmacy employees told FOX6 News a man ran into the building with a gun. They said the man then hid inside the building.

Employees said Milwaukee police arrived and had the building evacuated.

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FOX6 News crews saw the man go into police custody shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday. MPD later confirmed the man, a 29-year-old, was taken into custody shortly before 8:45 p.m. and a firearm was recovered.

Police are investigating an attempted armed robbery in the area of Fond du Lac and Capitol that happened at approximately 2 p.m. They said the man fled the scene on foot and entered the nearby pharmacy building.

A tactical setup was established and crisis negotiators responded to the scene.

Janquil Allison, with Progressive Medical Group inside the building, said she recognized the man as one of their patients.

"So as we were getting ready to wind things down, to get ready to close for the day, I recognized one of our patients as he came through the door, and he looked like he was in distress, as if someone was chasing him," Allison said. "I tried to stop him, ‘cause I noticed he locked our front door and I was telling him that we don’t close our doors until 3 p.m.  At that time, it was currently around 2:15 p.m. He then proceeded run around the corner, where he dropped his weapon, and then he took a few seconds and he picked it up and he continued to run to the back."

She said she then noticed officers standing at the front door.

"I hopped over the counter, I did let the officers in, and as I did that, the officers told me that I had to get out, because someone in the building was armed," Allison said.

Traffic was being rerouted throughout the evening. No arrest has been made.

"I hope they get him out safely, and I hope he doesn’t do any harm to himself or to any other officers," Allison said.

The investigation is ongoing and charges are pending review by the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.