Milwaukee officer targeted by online threats after shooting

The violence, mainly on Saturday and Sunday nights, followed the fatal shooting by a police officer of Sylville K. Smith, 23, of Milwaukee.

Furious Facebook users posted threatening comments under the picture with some saying “if he’s seen anywhere in the city drop him” while another said someone should “shoot him right in his head”.

The officer, who has not been identified, is black, as was Smith. They knew each other.

Other commenters urged restraint and warned against violence that could “destroy our own neighborhoods”.

“You’re burning down s- we need in our community”, Sherelle screamed in video that’s now being widely shared on social media.

Flynn said the officer is now staying with relatives out of town. The Journal Sentinel reports that it has “independently confirmed his identity”.

Milwaukee police are aware of threats on social media, against both the officer and police in general, Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn said Sunday.

A relative of the man who was killed says Heaggan went to the same high school as Sylville Smith, who was shot Saturday after fleeing from a traffic stop. According to authorities, Smith was armed with a gun and turned toward the police officer. The state is investigating.

Police in riot gear wait in an alley after a second night of clashes between protestors and police August 15, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

A few hours after the shooting, violence erupted on the city’s largely black north side, with protesters hurling rocks at police and burning six businesses and a squad vehicle.

Monday was calm, though 10 people were arrested and there were no reports of protesters on Tuesday.