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Suspect in fatal shooting at Center Street Park cleared of charges; 'self defense' cited

The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office released a brief statement to local news outlets announcing the decision not to pursue charges in the May 30 shooting.

Suspect in fatal shooting at Center Street Park cleared of charges; 'self defense' cited
A handmade "No Guns" sign is affixed to a window grate of the building at Center Street Park near where a 22-year-old man was shot and killed May 30 during a picnic party.
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Milwaukee County prosecutors have declined to file charges against a 25-year-old woman accused of shooting and killing a 22-year-old Milwaukee man at Center Street Park on May 30 after determining the case could not proceed because of the suspect's claims of self defense.

Relatives of the victim have identified him as Pepe Sikisi-Belle Jr., a father of three children who was with other family members celebrating one of his children's birthdays at Center Street Park when the festivities ended in gunfire.

Little is known about the circumstances of the shooting, which occurred around 6:45 p.m. May 30. More than a dozen police squad cars responded to assist an investigation led by the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, which later announced only that the victim had died and a suspect was arrested. The office has not responded to Tosa Forward News' emailed requests for additional information.

The suspect was identified only as a 25-year-old woman. Though not named, only one suspect meeting that description was shown in online jail records as being booked after the shooting. Initially held on a $200,000 bail with "charges pending," she has since been released, according to the jail records.