Herman Lucas is the man police say was shot and killed by a Milwaukee police officer after refusing commands to drop a gun and leading officers on a foot and vehicle pursuit, multiple sources told Wisconsin Right Now. He was released from prison on a reckless injury conviction out of Milwaukee County onto extended supervision, picked up the new crime, and was released on extended supervision again. He was wanted on a warrant out of Waukesha County at the time of his death, court records show.
Herman B. Lucas was convicted of felony misappropriate an ID in 2020 in Waukesha County, according to court records. In July 2020, Waukesha County Court Commissioner Linda Saafir gave him $500 bail. In November 2021, he was convicted and given probation for the non-violent offense with six months jail (two stayed to be used at the agent’s discretion) by Judge Brad Schimel. In March 2022, he was listed as non-compliant with probation conditions. The judge ordered him to serve four months condition time, and a bench warrant was issued. However, the warrant was still active at the time of Lucas’s death.
In 2009, in Milwaukee County, Herman Lucas was convicted of two charges, Adjudged Delinquent Possess Firearm, a class G felony, and 1st Degree Reckless Injury, a class D felony, court records show. In 2009, Milwaukee County Court Commissioner Rosa M. Barillas set his bail at $50,000 cash. Judge Mel Flanagan denied Lucas’s request for earned release eligibility and Judge David Feiss denied his petition for sentence adjustment. He was ordered to serve 10 years in state prison combined for both charges with 2 of those years concurrent, meaning he would stay behind bars for 8 years.
According to Corrections records, he was released on 08/20/2019 on extended supervision. By December 2019 he was incarcerated and the released on a Corrections hold. On 09/17/2020, he was “Returned from Extended Supervision (ES).” On April 6, 2021, he was released again on extended supervision.
The Milwaukee police officer shot and killed an armed man who led officers on a vehicle and foot pursuit and then refused commands to drop his gun, according to a press release from the Milwaukee Police Department. That release does not name Lucas.
“During the foot pursuit, the suspect possessed a handgun and continued to flee with the gun in his hand. Officers gave the suspect several commands to drop the gun and an officer discharged his firearm striking the suspect. No officers or anyone else was injured from the gunfire,” police wrote. “The suspect, a 31-year-old Milwaukee man, sustained fatal injuries. The firearm was recovered.”
See the video based on the above screenshot here.
“At the time the officer engaged, there was a firearm,” Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said in a news conference.
Police wrote, “The Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) is aware of videos that are circulating on social media platforms depicting portions of the incident including officers moving the suspect.”
The suspect’s name was not released. The shooting occurred in District 4, which is the police district where Police Officer Peter Jerving was shot and killed in a foot pursuit with an armed suspect.
Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, at approximately 1:48 p.m., Milwaukee Police officers “observed a vehicle traveling on the 7000 block of W. Thurston Avenue, without any license plates,” the release says.
“Officers conducted a traffic stop at which time, the driver initially stopped; however, he then fled in the vehicle as officers approached.”
Officers responding to the area “observed the suspect vehicle at N. 60th Street and W. Thurston Avenue and a vehicle pursuit was initiated,” the release says.
‘”The pursuit ended when the suspect vehicle disregarded a red traffic signal and collided with an uninvolved vehicle in the 9100 block of W. Silver Spring Drive. The suspect and sole occupant exited the vehicle and fled on foot.”
The press release continues:
“The uninvolved motorist in the other vehicle refused medical attention.
The officer involved is a 43-year-old male with over 5 years of service. He will be placed on administrative duty as is routine in an officer-involved critical incident.
This is a fluid and ongoing investigation. The Milwaukee Area Investigative Team will be investigating this incident. The Waukesha Police Department will be the lead law enforcement agency in the investigation.
The Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) is aware of videos that are circulating on social media platforms depicting portions of the incident including officers moving the suspect. MPD is conducting a full administrative investigation of this incident. MPD holds its members to the highest level of integrity and if it is determined that any member has violated the code of conduct they will be held accountable. A community briefing discussing this incident will be released in the future.”