SHOREWOOD, Wis. — A community is in mourning and shock following a violent early morning shooting on Thursday, July 3, 2025, that left 34-year-old Victoria Truss dead, a police officer injured, and the suspected gunman killed after a multi-jurisdictional chase.
The incident began around 2:30 a.m. near Bartlett Avenue and Wood Place in Shorewood, where authorities responded to a report of gunfire. Upon arrival, Shorewood officers were met with a hail of bullets. One officer, still seated in his squad car, was struck by a bullet that pierced the windshield. Fortunately, the round struck his bulletproof vest, sparing him from serious injury. He was treated and released from a local hospital.
Despite being under fire, the officer was unable to return shots as the gunman fled the scene in a vehicle.
Authorities later confirmed that Victoria Truss, a beloved local resident, was the victim of the initial shooting outside her home. A friend identified her as the 34-year-old woman whose life was tragically cut short. Police also said another person was shot during the incident, though no further information has been released about that individual’s condition or identity.
Witnesses in the area initially mistook the sound of gunfire for fireworks.
“My wife and I woke up about 2:30 in the morning. First, we thought it was fireworks, but then the rounds just kept happening,” said John Klaus, a nearby resident.
Shorewood Police Chief Heather Wurth addressed the media, expressing relief that the officer was not more seriously injured and condemning the recent surge in violence.
“The inherent risks that they face and the attacks that they’re under… The violence in this community — Milwaukee, Shorewood — and the attacks against our officers has got to stop,” Wurth stated.
Police confirmed the suspect was known to the victim, but details of their relationship have not been disclosed. The gunman was identified by the caller and from prior interactions with police, though authorities have not yet released his name.
Shortly before 9:30 a.m., officers with the Wauwatosa Police Department located the suspect in a black sedan. A high-speed chase ensued, during which the suspect fired at officers from his vehicle. The pursuit ended near Reservoir Avenue and Dr. William Finlayson Street in Milwaukee, where the suspect again opened fire. Officers returned fire, ultimately killing the gunman at the scene. Miraculously, no officers were injured during the chase or final confrontation.
Police have not specified how many officers fired their weapons. All officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol during investigations of officer-involved shootings.
This tragic sequence of events has left a community reeling — grieving the loss of Victoria Truss, praying for the full recovery of the injured officer, and calling for unity and peace in the face of senseless violence.
Anyone with additional information regarding the shooting is urged to contact local law enforcement. As the investigation continues, the Shorewood and Milwaukee communities are left grappling with yet another painful reminder of the toll of gun violence.
