Drivers ring Froedtert Hospital after colleague is shot on the job; police say suspects are still at large.
WAUWATOSA, Wis. — Dozens of tow truck drivers formed a rolling procession outside Froedtert Hospital on Thursday night, filling the access road with amber lights and air horns to support Alfredo “Fredo” Martin, a 29-year-old repossession agent wounded during a late-night pickup in Milwaukee earlier in the week.
The show of solidarity came as Milwaukee police said investigators have identified suspects in Monday night’s shooting but had not announced arrests as of Friday. Organizers timed the rally for the dinner hour so hospital staff and Martin’s family could watch from windows, turning a routine weekday into a statement of unity by an industry that often works unseen. Drivers said the line around the hospital symbolized how recovery crews plan to stand by Martin through surgery, rehabilitation and whatever comes next in the case.
Friends said Martin was shot around 11:40 p.m. Monday while handling a repossession near Burleigh Street and Teutonia Avenue on the city’s north side. He was hit in the lower back, underwent emergency surgery that included removing his appendix and repairing part of his lower intestine, and remains hospitalized in stable condition. “He’s a cool, laid-back guy who likes to joke,” said Tony McCutchen, a fellow driver who visited the hospital soon after the shooting. “You never think you’ll see a friend in a bed like that after just going to work.” The attack happened near residential blocks that regularly see overnight truck traffic as recovery agents try to finish assignments before morning.
Police said detectives were gathering video from the 3100 block of North 16th Street and nearby intersections and were preparing case files for prosecutors once arrests are made. Officers have not released a motive, though friends said Martin was mid-assignment for a repossession company operating in Milwaukee County. Another friend, James Poplawski, described the rally as both a tribute and a reminder that drivers want to return home safely. “It’s a brotherhood, a sisterhood,” Poplawski said as trucks looped the campus. “At the end of the day, we all want to go home.” The procession, which began at dusk, featured flatbeds and wheel-lifts from several companies, their rooftop beacons reflecting off wet pavement.
Industry veterans at the gathering said confrontations can escalate quickly when vehicles are reclaimed, particularly in dense neighborhoods and tight curb lanes. Many drivers run overnight routes to avoid disputes in daylight and keep assignments on schedule. Thursday’s rally mirrored vigils and processions seen in other cities when recovery agents have been injured or killed on calls, underscoring the tension that can surround property disputes and vehicle pickups. Neighbors near the hospital paused to film the lights as the line of trucks idled; passersby offered nods and brief claps as families clustered near the entrance for updates on Martin’s condition.
Organizers said they coordinated with hospital security to keep the loop moving and avoid blocking entrances, opting for several slow laps rather than a full street shutdown. Friends said Martin’s doctors are watching for infection and managing pain, with hopes he could be discharged next week if recovery continues. Police did not announce a next briefing but are expected to update the public when arrests occur. Until then, drivers said they plan to rotate hospital visits and check on Martin’s family as detectives work the case and prosecutors review potential charges.
By night’s end, the procession thinned to a handful of trucks and quiet conversations. “Walk away, take a breath,” Poplawski said of conflicts that can flare during repossessions. “At the end of the day, we all want to go home.” For those who circled Froedtert, the message was less about noise and more about presence: the industry was there, visible, and waiting for the investigative next steps.
As of Friday morning, Martin remained in stable condition at Froedtert while Milwaukee police continued to seek the suspects identified earlier in the week. Investigators have not released names, charges or a timetable for arrests.
Author note: Last updated January 2, 2026.