Police say 75-year-old neighbor in custody in shooting of teen

MILWAUKEE -- A 13-year-old boy was shot and killed in the street Thursday, May 31st. It happened just before 10 a.m. near 19th and Arrow on the city's south side. Milwaukee police say they have a suspect in custody.

Family members identified the teen as 13-year-old Darius Simmons and say he passed away at Children's Memorial Hospital Thursday.

Officials tell FOX6 News the man in custody is 75 years old and believed the teen may have been doing something he shouldn't have been at the time. The suspect waited at the scene and turned himself and his weapon over to police.

"It's still very early in the investigation, but the information we're getting now is that there was a belief on the suspect's part that there was some type of action by the victim that precipitated this," Milwaukee Police Lt. Thomas Stigler said.

Neighbors told FOX6 News the elderly man was a fixture in the community who was often seen walking his dog. They say the man has lived there for years, and had been upset lately, believing his home had been a recent target of thieves - something he blamed on his next door neighbors.

"He's been worried about his property and put cameras up," neighbor Sandra Ortega said.

"He put cameras up because the police were by his house last week," neighbor Luz Estrera said.

"They broke two windows, he told me," neighbor Steven Cierra said. Cierra said he spoke with the man often.

There is broken glass in the alley next to the man's home.

Lt. Stigler said he does not believe the Castle Doctrine will come into play in this case. Police are investigating whether there was a history of neighbor disagreements between the suspect and victim.

Juanisha Williams told FOX6 News she was sleeping Thursday morning before hearing gunshots. Williams says the victim, Darius Simmons is her boyfriend's brother, and was like a little brother to her.

"I ran downstairs and saw the man walking up and down the street with the gun," Williams said.

"He was a sweet guy. He's nice. When you asked him to do stuff he would do it," Williams said of the victim.

Williams doesn't believe Simmons would have done anything to upset the suspect to the point of shooting him.