A Milwaukee police officer was the target of online threats from people identifying him as the cop who fatally shot Sylville Smith in an incident that sparked outrage and violence in the city over the weekend, the Chicago Tribune reports.
As the report notes, the authorities have yet to identify the officer who killed Smith on Saturday, however, widely shared social media posts and at least one news report have identified him as a 24-year-old patrolman. According to the Tribune, several posts included threats, as well as a photo of the officer.
On Tuesday, the department acknowledged the “disturbing national trend,” where social media users identify officers involved in fatal shootings and threaten them and their families. A spokesman for the department did not confirm the identify of the individual being circulated online. However, the department is investigating local threats against its officers.
Smith, 23, was shot and killed on Saturday after fleeing on foot from a traffic stop. According to authorities, Smith had a gun in his hand when he turned to the officer, who fired his service weapon, ultimately killing Smith.
Read more at the Chicago Tribune.