Two people were shot inside Aurora Sinai Medical Center — a hospital just steps from Marquette University’s campus and surrounded by student housing — around 2:15 a.m. on March 2.
One victim, a 40-year-old man named Christopher Robinson Jr., sustained a life-threatening gunshot wound and was declared dead on March 2 by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office. However, a family attorney told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on March 5 that Robinson is still on life support, though he no longer has brain function. A 38-year-old victim was also shot and survived.
Aurora Sinai uses metal detectors at both its main entrance and emergency entrance, but, according to a statement from the medical center, internal review found staff members were not using a handheld wand to screen guests. Those staff members were fired, though it is unclear how many were involved or how standard metal detectors failed to detect a firearm.
No information has been made available about the type of gun that was used. Robinson’s family attorney described the shooting as a random, unprovoked act of violence.
The Marquette University Police Department did not send out a safety alert, nor any other university-wide communication, following the shooting near campus. Milwaukee police say they apprehended a 37-year-old in connection with the shooting, though neither the victims nor the person apprehended have been identified yet.
“Safety Alerts are issued for incidents where there is an ongoing threat to campus. Aurora Sinai Medical Center is not within the MUPD patrol zone,” University spokesperson Kevin Conway told the Marquette Wire in an email. “The Milwaukee Police Department had officers on site who immediately took the suspect into custody without contacting MUPD for assistance.”
According to MUPD’s website, campus police issues safety alerts through text messages and emails to students, faculty and staff in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act, which requires universities to report campus crime data. Safety alert messages are only sent if there is an active threat to campus or a significant police presence.
Not all safety incidents warrant a notification, the department’s website says. MUPD does not typically issue a safety alert if a subject is apprehended, though an exception may be made when there is a significant police presence or an area the public is asked to avoid.
MUPD keeps a daily log of all crimes or incidents that occur within its patrol boundaries around Marquette’s campus.
This story has been updated with new information.
This story was written by Mia Thurow. She can be reached at [email protected].
