A quiet Thursday morning commute turned deadly when an off-duty Milwaukee cop was attacked at gunpoint following a minor car accident—leading to an exchange of gunfire that left the suspect dead.
According to the Milwaukee Police Department, the incident happened around 8:25 a.m. on October 9, 2025, on the 4800 block of West Mill Road.
The off-duty officer, a 40-year-old male with 21 years of service, was driving to work when he got into a minor crash. Both drivers pulled over and got out to assess the damage. Police say the other driver, 26-year-old Elijah Wilks, produced a firearm and struck the officer in the face.
The officer then drew his department-issued firearm, and the two exchanged gunfire. Wilks was struck and pronounced dead at the scene. No bystanders were hit, and the officer was transported to the hospital with facial injuries.
The confrontation was captured on the off-duty officer’s dash camera, providing a clear view of what happened just feet away. Milwaukee Police released the video less than a week later under Standard Operating Procedure 575, which requires video release within 15 days of critical incidents.
The footage was first shown privately to Wilks’ family and their attorney, B’Ivory LaMarr, who both said the officer’s actions were justified.
“When we saw the video for the first time, completely silent,” LaMarr told Fox 6 News Milwaukee. “It was unimaginable, you know, what actually took place… and it’s just something that we have to take acceptance and accountability for.”
Wilks’ mother also told Fox 6 News she believed the officer acted lawfully. The family initially asked police to delay public release of the footage so they could grieve, but after unclear surveillance clips spread online, they requested the department release the dashcam video “to bring clarity” and help the community heal.
The Milwaukee Area Investigative Team is investigating the shooting, with the West Allis Police Department serving as the lead agency. The involved officer remains on administrative duty, which is standard procedure following any officer-involved shooting.
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