Thomas R. Kiefer was a 27-year-old Milwaukee police officer killed on November 25, 1977, while responding to a reported domestic disturbance at 2962-B North First Street. He and his partner, Officer Wayne W. Jensen, were sent to meet a woman who said there was a man with a shotgun inside. Jensen took cover on the front porch while Kiefer approached the door, knocked, and announced he was police. When Kiefer reached across and knocked again the door opened and a shotgun blast struck him in the left side of his chest. Kiefer was taken to County General Hospital and died within an hour of being shot. Leon Gladney remained inside, briefly barricaded, then surrendered and was taken into custody in connection with the killing.

Gladney was tried and initially found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment on December 14, 1978. Later proceedings focused on his mental condition; he entered a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease, was found mentally ill at the time of the killing, and in 1980 was committed to the custody of the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services.

Does anyone have memories of the Fifth District or the neighborhood around North First Street in 1977 that could shed light on this incident?