Protesters Assault Wisconsin Officer and Shoot Up His Home, Police Say

A group of protesters gathered at Police Officer Joseph Mensah's Wauwatosa, Wisconsin home on Saturday night, where he was allegedly punched and a gun was fired into his house.

Mensah is responsible for three deadly shootings while on duty in the past five years. Two of the deaths were deemed self-defense by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office; Jay Anderson Jr. in 2016 and Antonio Gonzales in 2015. The third, the shooting of Alvin Cole at Mayfair Mall earlier this year, is currently under review.

Mensah tried to reason with the group of 50 to 60 protesters on Saturday night, but claimed he and his girlfriend were both "assaulted" and "punched." The police officer retreated inside his home before a protester approached the rear door and fired a shotgun round into the property.

"On August 8th, 2020 at approximately 8:05 PM, a large group gathered in the area of N. 100. St. and W. Vienna St. in the City of Wauwatosa. The group, estimated to be between fifty and sixty people, targeted the private residence of Wauwatosa Police Officer Joseph Mensah and began to vandalize the home," said Wauwatosa Police Department in a statement.

"Officer Mensah attempted to establish a dialog with the group but was ultimately physically assaulted outside of his home. As Officer Mensah retreated into his home, armed protestors approached the rear door and a single shotgun round was discharged by a member of the group into Officer Mensah's backdoor."

The shotgun blast "missed me by inches" said Mensah in a Facebook post. The officer said protesters "tried to kill me."

The crowd also broke windows and put silly string and toilet paper over the property. "I am all for peaceful protests, even against me, but this was anything but peaceful," said Mensah.

A group marched through Mayfair mall at the end of June, the place where Alvin Cole was fatally shot, in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter cause and Cole's death.

"In recent weeks, various groups have protested in Wauwatosa, demanding that Officer Mensah be fired. The City of Wauwatosa has always supported and protected the right to peaceful protest," said Mayor Dennis McBride, in a statement.

"Last night's event was not a peaceful protest; it was criminal behavior. If the perpetrators of this criminal behavior are identified, they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent allowed by law."

Mensah explained in part of his statement that children live at the residence that protesters targeted. "The irony in all of this is that they chanted Black Lives Matter the entire time, but had zero regard for any of the black children that live there or me, a black man," said Mensah.

Mayor McBride reminded residents to reflect on their personal responsibility and behavior.

"Now more than ever, it is essential that we all work together to heal a divided community. This will require patience and an understanding that, though changes must occur, they can only occur through the functioning of democratic processes and not through violence."

Newsweek has contacted Mayor Dennis McBride and police officer Joseph Mensah for further comment.