Milwaukee El Rey shooting vigil
A vigil was held Sunday night after two people were shot and killed following a disturbance at Milwaukee’s El Rey grocery store Saturday morning, one of them a security guard.
MILWAUKEE – Two people were shot and killed following a disturbance at a Milwaukee grocery store Saturday morning, July 9, authorities said. A vigil was held Sunday evening for the security guard killed on the job.
The shootings took place at the El Rey on Cesar Chavez Drive. It’s one of three Milwaukee locations for the Hispanic grocery store.
Police said the ruckus spilled into the parking lot where a man and two security guards exchanged gunfire. The man and one of the security guards were killed, and a bystander suffered minor injuries, police said.
Security guard identified
Family of the security guard who was killed identified him as Anthony Nolden, 59, known as “Uncle Tony.” His family said he loved working in this community, and based on what was said at the vigil Sunday evening, the community loved him, too.
When news spread of a shooting at the El Rey grocery store on Cesar Chavez Drive, NaTeisha Nolden picked up her phone.
“Instantly, I closed my Facebook. I called my uncle on Messenger. No answer. I’m texting him. No answer. I’m calling his phone. I’m still texting. No answer,” said NaTeisha Nolden.
Nolden’s “Uncle Tony” worked as a security guard at El Rey. He never called her back.
“It’s real heartbreaking that I never get to talk to him no more. No phone calls. No birthday cards, like, nothing,” said NaTeisha Nolden.
Milwaukee police said they were called to the store just before 10:30 Saturday morning, where there was a shootout between Anthony Nolden and a 36-year-old Milwaukee man. Both died.
Shooting scene outside El Rey on Cesar Chavez Drive
“I’m angry. I’m not even going to lie. I’m angry,” said NaTeisha Nolden. “These guns don’t make no sense.”
NaTeisha Nolden spoke at Sunday’s vigil for her uncle exactly 23 years to the day from when she buried Anthony Nolden’s brother – her father.
“I feel, like, a hole in my heart all over again, like I’m repeating the death of my father all over again after 23 years,” said NaTeisha Nolden.
She said her uncle stepped in as a father figure when her dad was shot and killed in 1999. Her grandmother’s only two sons are now both gone due to gun violence.
“I’m looking out the window constantly. Who’s going to be next?” said NaTeisha Nolden. “Who am I going to get a call about next? Is it going to be me? Another family member? A friend? It’s heartbreaking. It’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous.”
Police have not provided any information about why the 36-year-old Milwaukee man showed up at El Rey with a gun Saturday morning.
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