Sheriff’s officials said a 13-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man were stabbed during an unprovoked attack.
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — A 21-year-old man was arrested after a 13-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man were stabbed Wednesday at Pulaski Park on Milwaukee’s south side, the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office said.
The attack drew a large law enforcement response to the park near South 16th Street and West Cleveland Avenue. Investigators said the first victim was sitting on a bench when he was stabbed in the neck. A second person who ran to help was then stabbed in the neck and shoulder.
Sheriff’s officials described the first stabbing as unprovoked. They said a third person stepped in during the struggle and may have stabbed the suspect. Deputies later found the suspect with a knife and a makeshift explosive, officials said. He also had a stab wound to his leg and a fractured skull.
The suspect’s name was not released in the first public reports. Officials said the case also included an earlier armed robbery report made to Milwaukee police the same day. In that report, the suspect said three people held him at knifepoint, punched him and stole his sweatshirt near South 15th Street and West Lincoln Avenue.
No deaths were reported. Investigators said reckless endangering safety charges were being referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office for review. It was not immediately clear whether prosecutors had filed charges or whether the suspect had an attorney.
Neighbors said the attack unsettled people who use the park. Amaidea Estrada, who said she saw the active crime scene during an evening walk, said people in the area were shaken. “You have to pay attention with your surroundings, because you don’t know who can come up behind you,” Estrada said.
Shonda Ceballos, who visited the park with her children Friday, said the news was hard to hear. “It’s horrible to hear about what happened,” she said. Officials had not released updated conditions for the two victims by Friday night.
The investigation remained active after the arrest, with prosecutors expected to review possible charges tied to the stabbing and the reported explosive device.
Author note: Last updated April 26, 2026.