Motorist trying to help when he was shot

MILWAUKEE – A man whose van struck and killed a 2-year-old boy on a Milwaukee street was shot to death after getting out to check on the child, police said.

A 15-year-old boy, a brother of the 2-year-old who came from a nearby house, was also fatally shot at the scene.

Archie Brown Jr., 40, died at the scene of Sunday evening’s accident near a park on Milwaukee’s near northwest side, police said. They identified the child as 2-year-old Damani Terry and the teen as Rasheed T. Chiles, who died at a hospital.

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office said in a statement later Monday that Damani and Rasheed were brothers.

A police statement Monday said Brown was distraught about hitting the child and stopped right away, according to witnesses. The statement didn’t explain how and why Chiles was shot, but police said he and the 2-year-old were attending the same party at the house near the accident.

Mayor Tom Barrett called the shooting of Brown an “assassination.”

“Someone got angry,” Barrett said. “Someone took a gun and basically assassinated this gentleman.”

Brown’s father, Archie Brown Sr., said a neighbor riding with his son on a trip to Home Depot told him that Chiles had gone to the scene to try to help.

“He came over to assist Junior and while he was assisting him they were shot,” the elder Brown said. “It’s a tough situation.”

Police said they had no one in custody.

Orange and blue balloons were taped to the front window of the house on Monday, along with a crepe paper streamer that read “Happy Birthday.” A frosted cake was smashed on the front sidewalk and candy was strewn in the yard.

Barbara Sprewer, who lives next door, said she saw Damani looking around before crossing the street, apparently heading for some girls dancing in the nearby park. She saw the van approach, and estimated it was going 25 to 30 mph.

“Nobody was watching the baby,” she said.

After the child was hit, she saw the driver get out. She said she heard shots but didn’t see who shot him or Chiles.

“I feel helpless. I feel numb,” she said. “I saw them alive, and I saw them deceased. I’ve been reliving this since I woke up.”