2 women injured in Racine cemetery shooting, no suspects in custody (2024)

RACINE, Wis. — A suspect shot and injured two women during a funeral at Graceland Cemetery in Racine Thursday afternoon, according to police. In an update on Friday, officials said multiple guns were recovered from the scene, and there's no suspect in custody.

Racine police described the shooting as a "critical" incident and urged people to stay away. Police said multiple shots were fired in the direction of the funeral service.

According to a press release from police, a 19-year-old woman was treated and released for gunshot injuries, and a 35-year-old woman was flown to a hospital in Milwaukee. As of Friday morning, the 35-year-old had undergone surgery and is awake and alert.

More than an hour after the shooting, a family member who attended the service told TMJ4 News five people had been hit. Racine police said it's possible not everyone has reported injuries or plans to report minor injuries.

TMJ4 News crews could see at least 12 markers for bullet rounds at the scene of the shooting.

WATCH: Shocking video shows the moment shots were fired during a Racine funeral.

Video shows moments shots were fired at Racine funeral

Later in the afternoon, a smartphone video emerged on Facebook showing the funeral service. Family and friends are gathered around the grave site and casket of Da'Shontay King Sr. when gunfire rings out.

"I heard it was mass chaos," said Sgt. Wilcox. "People were running and people just got in cars. People were screaming. We got multiple 911 calls that people got shot."

Some people headed to Ascension Hospital, just half a mile away.

"Right now, we're asking for calm and no retaliation of any kind. This city has seen enough. We'd like to be able to rest for a little bit," said Sgt. Wilcox.

The Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home and Crematory confirmed to TMJ4 News that the funeral was for Da'Shontay King Sr. The worker at the funeral home said King's family members were hit. All funeral home staff are okay, they said.

Family previously identified Da'Shontay King Sr. as the man a Racine police officer shot and killed near 12th and Schiller on May 20.

Police said that an officer attempted a traffic stop for a firearms investigation. Police said King got out of the vehicle armed with a gun. The officer ordered the suspect to stop and comply with commands, but he refused, police said. The officer opened fire. King was pronounced dead at the scene.

The City of Racine is also enforcing a juvenile curfew ordinance from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. following the shooting on Thursday.

Anyone under the age of 18-years-old must be home by 11 p.m., according to Racine Mayor Cory Mason. Mason said he is instructing the police department to actively enforce the curfew through the weekend.

The shooting at the cemetery happened around 2:30 p.m. and endangered more than just the mourners.

Tre Brantley was playing basketball at a park near the cemetery when he suddenly heard bullets zipping past him.

"I was very scared. Very scared. But it was more fear for my little brother and longtime family friend and his girlfriend, and if we could get out of there," said Brantley.

TMJ4's Bruce Harrison spoke with a neighbor who says the gunfire was so sporadic that it hit playground equipment behind the service at Lockwood Park. He says his son was playing basketball at the park.

We spoke with another neighbor who lives right across the street. He says the gun violence is out of control in Racine.

"When I heard it's a funeral, I'm thinking, Lord, you can't even go to a funeral anymore. They're shooting from 120 yards away. Complete disregard," said Kevin.

A spokesperson for nearby Ascension All Saints Hospital said the hospital was on lockdown. They have since lifted the lockdown.

"The safety of our associates, patients, visitors and providers is our top priority. Due to a situation offsite, increased security measures have been put in place at Ascension All Saints Hospital. Patients are still able to keep previously scheduled appointments and the emergency department is currently accepting patients. However, out of an abundance of caution, the number of open entrances into the hospital has been reduced and additional security screenings have been implemented," according to Ascension.

The Racine United School District said Park High School was dismissed about 10 minutes later than normal, after law enforcement assured them it was safe to do so.

Racine police are asking anyone with video footage of the incident to email it to Lt. Melby at Chad.melby@cityofracine.org or Sgt. Koepnick at Justin.koepnick@cityofracine.org.

Editor's Note: TMJ4 News initially reported that 5 people were shot and injured, citing what family members told us at the scene. This report has been updated with information provided by Racine police during a press conference Thursday, that at least 2 people were shot and injured.

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