Potawatomi casino reviews security as charges loom in shooting
Photo contributed by De Von Dent
The scene from after the shooting on the gaming floor at Potawatomi Bingo Casino early Sunday.
Spokesman says security officers trained to alert authorities, not intervene
By Ashley Luthern of the Journal Sentinel
Potawatomi Bingo Casino is reviewing its security procedures after a man ignored posted warnings and brought a gun inside the casino, shooting a Milwaukee woman in her leg early Sunday.
"In a situation like this, our security officers are not armed. They are not to become interveners, they are to become witnesses," Ryan Amundson, casino spokesman, said Monday.
Amundson confirmed that several casino patrons helped wrestle the gun away from the shooter, who already had fired multiple shots on the gaming floor and wounded the 23-year-old Milwaukee woman about 1:30 a.m. Sunday at the casino, 1721 W. Canal St.
A 27-year-old Wauwatosa man is in custody while the Milwaukee County district attorney's office reviews the case for possible charges, Milwaukee police said Monday. The man could be in court by Tuesday.
Multiple people told the Journal Sentinel that frightened patrons stampeded in two waves toward the casino's exits in a chaotic scene as other gamblers sought cover under gaming tables.
"This is an extreme situation so everything happened really quickly. A fight broke out, and when this fight broke out our security officer called for backup," Amundson said.
"When she attempted to intervene she was knocked over. Unfortunately, a number of our security were attending to an emergency medical situation upstairs in the bingo hall at the same time."
The casino has signs posted at entrances that state no firearms or weapons are allowed on the property. It does not have metal detectors, nor do security officers systematically check purses or bags brought inside the casino.
"Our leadership team is taking this extremely seriously and reviewing all security and business practices," Amundson said. "We're absolutely committing to make it a fun, safe and entertaining place. The safety and security of guests is priority No. 1."
The casino, which has about 6 million patrons annually, has been open for 22 years and maintains a close relationship with Milwaukee police, who have jurisdiction at the casino and investigate crimes ranging from theft to Sunday's shooting, he said. He was unaware of any other shooting inside the casino.
"MPD advises us that our security officers need to identify the threat, keep people away, report the threat and then become a good witness, and that's exactly what they did (on Sunday)," Amundson said.
The 24-hour casino closed only for a few hours after the shooting, reopening at 9 a.m. Sunday. The woman was taken to a hospital and her injuries are not life-threatening, police said.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/crime/charges-pending-in-shooting-at-potawatomi-casino-b9935330z1-211804991.html
"In a situation like this, our security officers are not armed. They are not to become interveners, they are to become witnesses," Ryan Amundson, casino spokesman, said Monday.
Amundson confirmed that several casino patrons helped wrestle the gun away from the shooter, who already had fired multiple shots on the gaming floor and wounded the 23-year-old Milwaukee woman about 1:30 a.m. Sunday at the casino, 1721 W. Canal St.
A 27-year-old Wauwatosa man is in custody while the Milwaukee County district attorney's office reviews the case for possible charges, Milwaukee police said Monday. The man could be in court by Tuesday.
Multiple people told the Journal Sentinel that frightened patrons stampeded in two waves toward the casino's exits in a chaotic scene as other gamblers sought cover under gaming tables.
"This is an extreme situation so everything happened really quickly. A fight broke out, and when this fight broke out our security officer called for backup," Amundson said.
"When she attempted to intervene she was knocked over. Unfortunately, a number of our security were attending to an emergency medical situation upstairs in the bingo hall at the same time."
The casino has signs posted at entrances that state no firearms or weapons are allowed on the property. It does not have metal detectors, nor do security officers systematically check purses or bags brought inside the casino.
"Our leadership team is taking this extremely seriously and reviewing all security and business practices," Amundson said. "We're absolutely committing to make it a fun, safe and entertaining place. The safety and security of guests is priority No. 1."
The casino, which has about 6 million patrons annually, has been open for 22 years and maintains a close relationship with Milwaukee police, who have jurisdiction at the casino and investigate crimes ranging from theft to Sunday's shooting, he said. He was unaware of any other shooting inside the casino.
"MPD advises us that our security officers need to identify the threat, keep people away, report the threat and then become a good witness, and that's exactly what they did (on Sunday)," Amundson said.
The 24-hour casino closed only for a few hours after the shooting, reopening at 9 a.m. Sunday. The woman was taken to a hospital and her injuries are not life-threatening, police said.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/crime/charges-pending-in-shooting-at-potawatomi-casino-b9935330z1-211804991.html
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