4 dead in overnight shootings in Milwaukee

Four people were killed in three separate shootings late Wednesday and early Thursday in Milwaukee, police said.

Three of the deaths are being investigated as homicides and one as a suicide, according to the Milwaukee County medical examiner's office. 

Milwaukee police discovered the first shooting victim about 10:15 p.m. Wednesday when they were called to a report of a car accident and found a 67-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound, according to a news release.

Officers and firefighters attempted CPR but the man died at the scene in the 3600 block of W. Thurston Ave., police said. 

Police received a report of a double shooting in the area of 10700 W. Appleton Ave. about 1:30 a.m. Thursday. A 38-year-old woman and 36-year-old man were found with gunshot wounds, according to police.

Despite life-saving efforts, both died, police said.

Then, about two hours later, police received another call of a double shooting in the 6700 block of N. 52nd St. A 34-year-old man was found wounded and died at the scene, police said.

A 32-year-old woman also was shot and was taken to a hospital where she is expected to survive her injuries, according to police. Police say the preliminary investigation indicates the man shot the woman before he shot and killed himself. 

All three shootings remain under investigation, police said.

If three of the deaths are confirmed to be homicides, it would bring the number of homicide victims in Milwaukee to 130 so far this year, according to preliminary data that follows the FBI's Uniform Crime Report.

About 80% of the homicides have been shooting deaths. Another 12 killings have been reported, but they do not fall under the homicide definition used by the FBI.

Preliminary data shows homicides have decreased nearly 8% compared with the 141 homicides that had been recorded at this time last year. Last year, the city had 146 homicide victims, the highest total since 1993 when 160 people were killed.