A 56-year-old Milwaukee Public Schools teacher has died after he was assaulted just after 5:30 p.m. Thursday near 12th and Walnut, in the city's Triangle North neighborhood.
Police say a 22-year-old man is in custody in connection with the assault. What led up to it remains under investigation, and police say the case will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office for possible charges.
Family members identified the man killed as Harry Odele Bruce. He taught special education at Roosevelt Middle School, and his sons say he spent nearly 14 years teaching at Roosevelt.
Bruce was also a minister, a football coach and an author who wrote poetry. His sons say that whatever he was doing, he was always looking for a way to help someone else.
In a message to families Friday, Roosevelt Principal Tiffany Fisher called Bruce a pillar of the school community who also served as a tutor and mentor to many students. The district's crisis response team was at Roosevelt on Friday to support students and staff.
