5 people arrested in death of Milwaukee city worker during attempted carjacking

Five people, including the suspected shooter, have been arrested in connection with the death of Greg "Ziggy" Zyszkiewicz, a city home inspector who was shot and killed during an attempted carjacking while on duty this week, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said Friday.

The arrests followed two separate vehicle pursuits that ended in crashes and foot chases, and "occurred within hours" of the shooting, Police Chief Edward Flynn said.

"The two groups of individuals were together. ... They were all known to each other. They were looking to commit more crimes," Flynn said. "They were driving around on the lookout for other victims."

All of them, ages 16 to 21, had criminal records.

"This is not the first contact with the police for any of these five suspects," Flynn said.

Zyszkiewicz was found inside his vehicle in the area of N. 23rd and W. Cherry streets about 2 p.m. Wednesday after police had been called to check on the welfare of a person slumped over the steering wheel.

He was there to conduct a routine inspection of the exterior of a building with code violations that had not been corrected, city officials said.

Flynn said police believe Zyszkiewicz was killed by a shotgun during an attempted carjacking. A district crime analyst realized a shotgun had been used during a carjacking earlier that day and Milwaukee police began searching for the cars involved in that crime, a Toyota Venza and Kia Soul, the chief said.

Within 90 minutes of police finding Zyszkiewicz officers saw the Toyota and chased it, Flynn said. Two teens, ages 16 and 17, were arrested after a crash and foot chase. Soon after, police saw the Kia Soul and began a pursuit that ended in a crash near N. 18th and W. Nash streets. Two teens, ages 17 and 19, and a 21-year-old man were arrested.

Flynn released the following information about the suspects and possible charges:

• The 16-year-old faces a tentative charge of operating a vehicle without owner's consent in Children's Court. His prior record includes armed robbery and motor vehicle theft arrests in February.
• The 17-year-old, who was arrested with the younger teen, faces possible charges of homicide, attempted armed robbery and carjacking. He has prior robbery, assault and battery arrests.
• The 17-year-old arrested after the Kia Soul crashed faces tentative charges of homicide, attempted armed robbery and carjacking. He has prior arrests in connection with having a dangerous weapon and motor vehicle theft.
• The 19-year-old faces a possible charge of operating a vehicle without owner's consent. His arrest history dates back to 2013 and includes obstruction and motor vehicle theft. He had an open warrant for resisting and obstructing an officer.
• The 21-year-old faces tentative charges of homicide, attempted armed robbery and carjacking. His prior arrests date to 2011 and include weapons, theft and drug offenses. He also has two open cases in Milwaukee County related to being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, theft, resisting an officer and bail jumping. 

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Barrett praised the work of police officers, noting how quickly arrests were made.

"At the scene, which was horrifying in its own right, I stood there and I wondered how in God's name are we were going to catch the person or persons who committed this crime," Barrett said. "The car was sitting there by itself at the curb, and there was no one around."

He said the crime remains a "personal nightmare for Ziggy's family."

"It's still a personal nightmare for the city family, and for all people in this community who want this to be a better city," he said.

His family remembered Zyszkiewicz as a fun-loving and caring man who was always on the move.

"He was the world's greatest man," said his oldest daughter, Heather Zyszkiewicz Sharafinski. "Not just father, not just grandpa. He was the world's greatest man. He was Superman."

Olha Zyszkiewicz said her husband always wanted to help people, whether on the job or in their close-knit neighborhood on the city's south side.

"He loved the people he worked with," she said. "He never had anything bad to say about anybody. He always looked for the positive. He just always found something good in people."

A fund has been established to support Gregory "Ziggy" Zyszkiewicz’s family at U.S. Bank. Donations can be made at any branch location with checks payable to the Olha D. Zyszkiewicz Donation Account.