Police detained a man minutes after shots hit a contractor’s vehicles on South 23rd Street before dawn Monday.
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Milwaukee police are investigating a drive-by shooting recorded on surveillance video just after 3 a.m. Monday that damaged two parked work trucks on the city’s south side. Officers arrested a 41-year-old man nearby within minutes while searching for others involved.
The case underscores how quickly routine street parking can become a crime scene in a sleeping neighborhood and how fast officers moved on a lead. The shooting happened Nov. 24 near South 23rd Street and West Burnham Street. Video shows a truck rear-end a red work pickup, then someone inside fires several shots that strike a second truck. The owner, identified as Carolyn Contreras of Oaxacos Contractors LLC, said her four children were asleep in their home close to the curb where the vehicles were parked.
Contreras walked reporters through the damage later that day, pointing out holes and torn metal. “It got hit about four or five times,” she said of the black truck, adding that the red pickup was also rammed before the gunfire. Alarms echoed as the suspect vehicle rolled off. Contreras said she did not recognize the truck or anyone inside. Neighbors described a short burst of shots and then silence, followed by engines starting as people looked through blinds.
Police said officers located a 41-year-old man about four blocks away along South 23rd Street near Greenfield Avenue less than 15 minutes after the shots. According to arrest paperwork reviewed by reporters, the man was booked on counts of operating while intoxicated and discharging a firearm. Authorities did not release his name pending charging and did not say how many rounds were recovered. Investigators said they have not determined a motive and have not confirmed whether the work trucks were the intended target.
Detectives canvassed the block for additional cameras and witnesses and collected shell casings and other physical evidence from the curb line. The damaged trucks, both marked for a local contractor, were photographed for insurance and investigative records. Residents said the stretch of 23rd Street is usually quiet at that hour, with overnight parking common for tradespeople who head out before sunrise. The footage, captured by home security, shows muzzle flashes reflecting off the hood and windshield before the suspect vehicle leaves the frame.
By Tuesday evening, the arrested man remained in custody while the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office reviewed the case for potential charges. If a complaint is filed, an initial court appearance would follow where a court commissioner sets bail and future dates. Police said additional arrests are possible as they track the vehicle’s path and compare video timestamps. Officials did not announce when they expect to release further updates.
On Tuesday, daylight revealed fresh scuffs on the red pickup’s bumper where it was rear-ended and a line of small punctures along the side of the black truck. A neighbor sweeping the sidewalk said he heard alarms “ring down the block” and then watched squad cars roll in from Greenfield Avenue. Contreras said her family spent the morning checking rooms and reassuring the children before arranging for repairs.
As of Wednesday, no injuries had been reported and no motive publicly identified. Prosecutors continued reviewing evidence gathered by police, who said the neighborhood canvass would continue through the week. The next milestone is a charging decision from the district attorney.
Author note: Last updated November 26, 2025.