Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Former Officer Charged Over Shooting That Sparked Milwaukee Riots

Former Milwaukee police officer Dominque Heaggan-Brown who shot and killed Sylville Smith in September, sparking days of rioting in the city's Sherman Park neighborhood, has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide.

December 15, 2016
Former Officer Charged Over Shooting That Sparked Milwaukee Riots

Former Milwaukee police officer Dominque Heaggan-Brown faces a reckless homicide charge in the shooting of a suspect. (Photo: Milwaukee County SO)

2 min to read



Former Milwaukee police officer Dominque Heaggan-Brown who shot and killed Sylville Smith in September, sparking days of rioting in the city's Sherman Park neighborhood, has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide.

According to the criminal complaint, a review of the body camera footage from Dominque Heaggan-Brown and another officer showed that Smith fled from police carrying a semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine. The video, which has not been released, reportedly shows Smith slip, rise back to his feet with the gun, then raise the gun upward while looking in the direction of the officers and throw the gun over the fence into the yard.

Ad Loading...

Smith’s firearm was not discharged, the complaint said.

When Smith raised his gun upward, Heaggan-Brown fired one shot from his service weapon at Smith, and Smith fell to the ground on his back.

It was later determined that Heaggan-Brown’s that shot struck Smith in his right upper arm, the complaint said.

The video reportedly shows that Heaggan-Brown stood a short distance from Smith with his weapon pointed down at Smith and discharged a second shot from his weapon at what appears to be Smith’s chest.

The body camera footage shows Smith was unarmed at the time of the second shot, according to the complaint.

Ad Loading...

Police Chief Ed Flynn fired Heaggan-Brown on Oct. 31 after he was charged with second-degree sexual assault in an unrelated incident, WISN TV reports.

More Patrol

Police drone hovering over its charging nest against a blue sky background.
PatrolMarch 26, 2026

Brinc Unveils Guardian, Launching the Next Era of Drone as First Responder

Brinc’s new Guardian delivers 24/7 operations, Starlink connectivity, and a robotic charging nest that can swap batteries and change payload configurations without human intervention.

Read More →
image of trooper, shown from waist down, standing beside a police cruiser along the road and at right a headline Slow Down Move Over.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

Colorado State Patrol Releases 2025 Struck-By Analysis

The Colorado State Patrol, after analyzing its 2025 struck-by incidents, identified one area for improvement: using traffic cones to provide advanced warning before the cruiser's location. Here is the agency’s final data.

Read More →
Image of a group of men in business attire receiving an award set against a black background and a Streamlight logo up top.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

Streamlight Names 144th Marketing Group Law Enforcement Sales Rep Agency of the Year

Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Image of a group of men in business attire receiving an award set against a black background and a Streamlight logo up top.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

Streamlight Names 144th Marketing Group Law Enforcement Sales Rep Agency of the Year

Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.

Read More →
DArk backgroundn with inset images of a fallen police officer and a ballistic helmet and headline Rife-Rated.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

The Mission After the Moment

The mission of the Jorge Pastore Foundation is to support first responders through essential training, stronger community engagement, and mental wellness resources, all accessible and funded through donations, sponsorships, and foundation-led fundraising. It works closely with Team Wendy in the discussions about developing better protective gear for officers.

Read More →
Promotional graphic for Patrolfinder featuring a police chief’s headshot inside a circular frame alongside a police SUV in the background. The headline reads: “Built for Patrol: How One Police Chief Fixed Communication, Boosted Visibility, and Changed the Culture.”
SponsoredMarch 17, 2026

Built for Patrol: How One Police Chief Fixed Communication, Boosted Visibility, and Changed the Culture

Patrol work hasn’t changed—but the expectations on officers have. See how one police chief helped officers get the right information at the right time, improve patrol visibility, and strengthen trust without adding complexity or surveillance. This real-world story shows how patrol-driven technology can make the job safer, smarter, and more effective—starting on day one.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Man in a blue blazer lifting his shirt to reveal a concealed handgun in a waistband holster while standing outdoors.
SponsoredMarch 2, 2026

Safariland Solis Rethinks Concealable Duty

What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.

Read More →
Woman kneeling with a Bloodhound in front of a white pickup truck.
PatrolMarch 1, 2026

K-9s Play a Critical Role in Finding Missing Persons

Real-world scenarios show that a tracking canine can detect and follow a human track several hours after it was made.

Read More →
Black background with image of police car light bar, logo for POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips, and headline What are the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical?
Patrolby Wayne ParhamFebruary 25, 2026

Garmont Tactical’s LE Boot Lineup

In this video, we get a look at the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical, both for men and women. Kyle Ferdyn, sales manager, showcases four of the latest boots.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Person in protective CMRN suit and breathing gear.
PatrolFebruary 18, 2026

Avon Protection Launches EXOSKIN-S2 High-Performance CBRN Protective Suit

With the commercial availability of Avon Protection’s EXOSKIN-S2, users now have increased options for their protective suit requirements across the spectrum of CBRN threat environments.

Read More →