Early on Tuesday Milwaukee police officer Peter Jerving was shot and killed while trying to apprehend a robbery suspect, Terrell I. Thompson, 19, of Milwaukee, on the city's south side.
Here's what we know so far about what happened.
What happened during the encounter?
According to Police Chief Jeffery Norman, Milwaukee officers confronted Thompson, who ignored police commands and would eventually flee the officers on foot.
Jerving gave chase and caught up with Thompson, when a struggle ensued. Thompson fired shots from a handgun, striking the 37-year-old officer. Jerving then discharged his weapon.
Jerving later died at a hospital, while Thompson died at the scene, Norman said.
The chief also added it was not immediately clear whether the suspect's injuries were self-inflicted.
Milwaukee police declined to provide additional information Tuesday morning about the incident or the officer who survived. The investigation is being led by the Brookfield Police Department.
Who was the Milwaukee police officer who was shot?
Jerving had four years of experience with Milwaukee police.
He was part of a group of District Four officers who at 1:16 a.m. responded to the area in the 2700 block of South 14th Street to check for a man wanted in connection with a robbery that occurred Monday at 11:25 p.m. on the 3600 block of West Good Hope Road.
In an emotional news conference, Norman spoke about the officer, "One of our finest, who put on that uniform, put on that badge, went into work last night and paid the ultimate sacrifice for protecting our community."
Jerving was recognized by the department in November with a life-saving award. He and another officer saw a car crash last summer and found the driver suffering from a gunshot wound. The officers provided care to the driver and Jerving used a fire extinguisher to put out flames in the victim's car.
Norman said Jerving is a longtime Milwaukee resident who wanted to be an officer since he was 13.
Who killed the police officer?
The suspect has been identified as Terrell I. Thompson of Milwaukee.
Thompson had been facing two misdemeanor hit-and-run cases that each carried a maximum penalty of six months in jail.
On Monday, Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Christopher Dee sentenced Thompson to four months in the House of Correction.
That sentence was suspended for a year of probation instead. That meant Thompson would only serve the jail time if he failed on probation.
The Journal Sentinel reached out to Dee, the judge who sentenced Thompson on Monday. The judge's clerk said he was on the record hearing other cases and was not making comments at this time.
The Journal Sentinel also left a message for Thompson's attorney in the case.
How has the Milwaukee Police Department responded?
A group of emergency responders met Tuesday morning at the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office to honor the officer who was killed, and at 7 a.m. the police chief held a news conference.
It was at this news conference that an emotional Norman called for the violence in Milwaukee to stop.
"Milwaukee, we need your prayers, we need your support," he said. "To the men and women of the Milwaukee Police Department, I see you. I am proud of you. The work you do does not go unnoticed. This is a time to lean in and do the work in our community. The violence needs to stop."
Vehicle procession from medical examiner's office to Brookfield
A vehicle procession began around 5:30 p.m. for Jerving at the medical examiner's office, 933 W. Highland Ave.
Officers lined the driveway of the medical examiner's office offering salutes as Jerving's family approached the hearse with Jerving's body inside. Officers remained saluting as the hearse drove out of the driveway and entered the procession of police vehicles and fire trucks. The procession drove under an American flag, which hung from a fire truck ladder at the intersection of North Ninth Street and West State Street.
The procession closed I-94 and I-41/US-45 for a short period of time as the procession made its way to its final destination - Krause Funeral Home, 21600 W. Capitol Drive, Brookfield.
Closings in the area
Grandview High School and an Aldi grocery store, which are both located near the crime scene were closed Tuesday. Grandview said it expects to reopen Wednesday.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee police officer Peter Jerving shot and killed: What we know
