Police Arrest Suspects in Two Armed Robberies on Tosa's East Side

Two Milwaukee boys, one 13 and one 17, were arrested at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday on suspicion of two armed robberies that had been reported a short time earlier on Tosa's east side.

An officer spotted the two suspects near West Center and North 62nd streets and they fled into yards to the south.

He called for support, and Wauwatosa and Milwaukee police were setting up a perimeter around the block when the two ran into the open and were captured after separate foot chases.

A gun matching the description of the one used in the robberies and property belonging to one of the robbery victims were found in yards along their route, along with a black bandana and the hoodies they had been wearing.

The gun proved to be a Beretta Elite II brand CO2-powered .177-cal. BB gun, a replica of a Beretta semiautomatic pistol, with a muzzle velocity of 480 feet per second and capable of inflicting a serious injury at close range.

Upon questioning, both boys admitted they had robbed or attempted to rob three victims in the two reported incidents.

Couple race to restaurant to avoid assailants

At 8:48 p.m., a Milwaukee couple were walking in the 6100 block of West North Avenue when they noticed the two suspects following them.

They got nervous and began to cross to the south side of the street in the middle of the block, then heard the two running after them and calling, “Hey, get back here!”

The man looked back and saw one of them pointing a black handgun at him.

The two kept running and burst in to to escape and call police. The restaurant staff locked the doors and waited for police to arrive.

Robber holds gun to teenager's head

Minutes later, at 8:51 p.m., a 17-year-old Wauwatosa boy reported that he had been robbed at gunpoint by two assailants at the corner of North 65th and West Wright streets.

The victim said he was walking to a friend’s house when he saw the two subjects, who turned to walk behind him and then caught up to him.

One of them said, “Start walking with me,” and in fear, he complied. He said he had gone only a few steps when one of the robbers pushed him to the ground.

The other, he said, then pulled out a large, black semiautomatic pistol and pressed the barrel to the back of his head. They then rifled his pockets, stealing his iPhone, earbuds and wallet.

They let him up, and he started to walk away quickly and without looking back, fearing he would be shot. He said that as he was crossing Wright Street, he heard one of the robbers yell, “You better start walking faster or we’ll start shooting.” He ran home and called 911.

Disposition of the suspects

The 13-year-old suspect was remanded to the custody of the Juvenile Justice Center. The 17-year-old, who allegedly wielded the gun in both incidents, was sent to the Criminal Justice Center.

Under Wisconsin law, 17-year-old offenders are treated as adults. The use of a replica weapon, even one incapable of inflicting injury, in a robbery or attempted robbery, can be grounds for an armed robbery charge, punishable by up to 40 years in prison.