Milwaukee police made a disturbing discovery early Tuesday morning when six children, including a two-month-old infant, were found locked inside a storage unit on the city’s north side.

Authorities responded to a call at the StorSafe facility near 27th and Silver Spring around 1:36 a.m. on Sept. 16 after receiving an alert that children were trapped inside. Initially, dispatchers believed only two children were involved. But when fire crews forced open the unit, officers were stunned to find six minors — ages 9, 7, 5, 3, 2, and just two months.

The children were evaluated at the scene and, according to police, did not appear to have suffered physical injuries. Still, the circumstances have sparked outrage across Milwaukee and beyond.

“This touched my heart. I had to come out. I could not believe it,” local resident Tonya Lowe told WITI. “We have failed these kids. We don’t need to be cruel and treat our kids like animals and lock them in places they don’t deserve to be put in.”

Police immediately arrested a 33-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman believed to be connected to the case. Their names have not been released, and prosecutors said charges are pending review by the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.

“This is an active and ongoing investigation,” a spokesperson confirmed.

Neighbors expressed both shock and confusion at the revelation. One resident told WISN he had often seen a family with children coming and going from the storage site. “I’ve seen them leaving in the morning and coming back at night,” the man said. Another storage facility user, identified only as Mac, disputed that account. “I’ve never seen kids walking around here, no. Not at all,” he said.

The contrast in witness statements has left authorities with more questions than answers: Were the children living inside the unit, or were they placed there temporarily? And why were they locked inside at such an hour?

Milwaukee County’s Department of Health and Human Services is working with law enforcement to determine the children’s care and safety moving forward. Advocates stress that the discovery underscores ongoing concerns about hidden neglect and child endangerment.

Local residents say the case feels like a wake-up call. “I don’t even know how to respond to it,” another man told reporters. “To me, this sounds like a cry for help. Maybe they just needed help and didn’t know how to get it.”

The shocking case has also reignited calls for vigilance in recognizing signs of child abuse and neglect. Authorities emphasized that community members who see suspicious circumstances should not hesitate to report them.

The six children are now in protective custody as officials work to determine the long-term plan for their care.

National child welfare advocates expressed alarm that a baby and five young children could be subjected to such conditions. “This is a despicable violation of the trust owed to the most vulnerable members of our society,” one child protection official said.

The Milwaukee case comes amid broader national concerns about hidden abuse — cases where children are trapped in isolated spaces, often invisible to neighbors until tragedy strikes.

For now, the city is left grappling with the image of six children rescued from a padlocked storage unit in the middle of the night — an image that residents say will not soon be forgotten.

“If you suspect child abuse, call the hotline,” Lowe urged. “Don’t stay silent. These kids deserved better.”