KENOSHA — Three people including a pregnant woman were killed and two others critically injured in a mass shooting in Kenosha late Tuesday night. Police described the shooting was a result of a domestic dispute.
Police said in a statement the three people who were fatally shot were 18-year-old Marian Pizarro, 17-year-old Sebastian Perez-Alvarez, and 24-year-old suspect Jostin Gutierrez-Pagan. The two surviving victims have been identified as 35-year-old Luz Pizarro-Perez and a 14-year-old juvenile, who will not be named, police said.
Police say Jostin Guitierrez-Pagan shot his girlfriend, Luz Pizarro-Perez, and three of her children, before turning the gun on himself.
Luz survived the shooting, but is in critical condition. Her daughter, Marian Pizarro, did not survive the shooting.
Police confirm Marian was pregnant. Marian’s boyfriend, Sebastian Perez-Alvarez, was also killed in the shooting.
Luz’s 14-year-old son also survived the shooting, but has critical injuries.
All of the victims and the suspect lived together at the home where the crime occurred, on 40th Place between 6th and 7th Avenues. Neighbors describe it as a very quiet, tight-knit neighborhood just blocks from Lake Michigan. They are in shock.
“I heard a woman screaming ‘my daughter, my daughter, my baby, my daughter,’” said one neighbor who didn’t want to be identified.
“I could hear the woman screaming blood curdling screams saying, ‘It’s not supposed to be this way,’” said another neighbor.
Police say all that could be heard in the initial 911 call was unintelligible screaming.
Kenosha Police also confirm to TMJ4 that they did respond to a domestic disturbance at the same home last December. They say in that case, Jostin Gutierrez-Pagan had broken a window of a car in the driveway, and was sitting in the house with a handgun and loaded magazine next to him. He was allegedly angry after being stopped by Racine Police for a traffic violation. Kenosha Police say he had the proper conceal-carry permit, and had no criminal record. No arrests were made.
“No one would expect this,” said Juanita, who lives a few houses down. “I’m just praying for everyone involved, and that things get better.”
But for so many, it seems like things are only getting worse.
Not far away, in Racine, six people were shot and wounded Sunday.
And it’s been a particularly tough year for Kenosha County. With Tuesday night’s mass shooting, Kenosha County has now recorded at least 15 homicides this year. The county typically sees about five homicides total per year.
This is also the second mass shooting in Kenosha County in the past six months. On April 18, a gunman walked into a bar in the Village of Somers and shot six men. Three of them died.
Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian released a statement Wednesday acknowledging the current hardships people are facing - including the pandemic - are escalating conflict in many households:
“As a community, we are shocked and saddened by this senseless loss of life. This year we have had 12 homicides and two-thirds of the cases have been results of domestic violence. The current hardships people are facing – including the pandemic – seems to haveescalated conflict in some households. If you know of someone in crisis, please consider sharing community resources to find them the help they need."
Police reminded those struggling with mental illness or other stress-related conditions, a Crisis hotline can be reached at 262-657-7188. Women and Children’s Horizons offers help for those dealing with domestic violence and can be reached at 262-652-9900.
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