A 46-year-old man from Milwaukee, Harold Gierbolini, has been arrested and charged with multiple crimes following a shooting incident. The shooting occurred in the north side of Milwaukee and Gierbolini has been charged with four counts of recklessly endangering safety and one count of firearms possession as a felon.
The shooting was reported to the police through a ShotSpotter call, as well as through the testimony of an off-duty Wauwatosa police officer. The off-duty officer witnessed the shooting and saw the suspect get into a red Kia Sorento and drive away. The officer was able to provide the first three digits of the vehicle’s license plate, which was instrumental in tracking down the suspect.
When the police arrived at the scene, they spoke with a woman who was at home with her child and two grandchildren. She reported that they were upstairs when they heard the gunshots and upon inspection, the police found seven spent casings and seven bullet strikes to the exterior of the home. All seven bullets had penetrated the walls, with six hitting a bedroom and one hitting the living room.
Doorbell camera footage showed the shooter approaching the front door and ringing the bell several times, but walking away after no one answered. The shooter then turned and fired eight shots at the residence before returning to the red SUV.
Gierbolini was identified as the driver of the red Kia Sorento during a traffic stop and was taken into custody. He admitted to being the shooter during an interview with the police.
The woman inside the home, who wishes to remain anonymous due to concerns for her safety, expressed relief at the arrest of the suspect but still struggles with feeling safe in her own home. She said she plans to move and is looking for answers to the motive behind the shooting, which has not been specified in the criminal complaint.
Gierbolini made his initial court appearance on Jan. 24, and his cash bond was set at $30,000. If found guilty, he could face up to 47 and a half years in prison. The case highlights the importance of quick action and cooperation between law enforcement agencies in ensuring the safety of the community and bringing perpetrators of violent crimes to justice.