Four face felony murder charge in 2010 homicide

MILWAUKEE (WITI) --Three Milwaukee men and one man currently incarcerated in Waupun have been charged in connection with the death of James Cooper on May 13th, 2010.

Each of the men faces one count of felony murder -- a charge that comes with a maximum penalty of 35 years in prison.

Cooper was found dead of a gunshot wound in the 4700 block of N. 42nd Street on May 13th.

The criminal complaint says on December 2nd, 2011, Floyd Semons told officials he was picked up by Donovan Robinson -- and that the two had agreed to do a robbery together.

The complaint says Semons told officials Robinson had a gun, and gave Semons a gun for the robbery.

The two had planned to rob a home they believed had about $39,000 inside, according to the complaint.

The complaint says the two entered the home through a backdoor, and discovered Cooper  lying on the bed with a handgun near him.

Then, the complaint says Robinson told Cooper to put the gun down, but he did not comply with that request. The complaint says Robinson fired a shot at Cooper, and the two began exchanging gunfire.

The complaint says Robinson and Semons ran from the property without obtaining any property.

Robinson was arrested on June 7th, 2013.

The complaint says Robinson told police he was at the homicide of Cooper, along with Semons, Robert Hearn and Jawanza Lark.

The complaint says Robinson told police he knew Cooper was a heroin dealer and could be robbed. Robinson told officials he had learned this information from Hearn.

The complaint says Robinson told officials he agreed to go along with the robbery, and was accompanied by Lark, Hearn and Semons.

The complaint says Robinson told officials Semons entered the bedroom first, and pointed a gun at Cooper. Robinson told officials Cooper was pointing a gun at the group, and Robinson then fired at Cooper -- and gunshots were exchanged before the group fled the scene.

The complaint says Lark told officials this was supposed to be a drug robbery, and they had intended to obtain heroin and cocaine.