Sentenced: 23 years in prison for Joseph-Jamal Brantley, convicted in fatal shooting

KENOSHA COUNTY (WITI) -- A jury found him guilty on four charges in connection with the shooting death of Anthony Edwards in Kenosha. On Monday, May 4th, 23-year-old Joseph-Jamal Brantley was sentenced.

Joseph-Jamal Brantley

Brantley was convicted of the following:

For the homicide conviction, Brantley was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison and 15 years extended supervision.

For the armed robbery conviction, Brantley was sentenced to 10 years probation.

For the first degree recklessly endangering safety charge, Brantley was sentenced to three years in prison and two years extended supervision. That is to be served consecutively.

For the carrying a concealed weapon conviction, Brantley was sentenced to serve one year probation.

In total -- Brantley will serve 23 years in prison.

Restitution has been set at more than $12,000 in this case. It is to be paid by all three of those charged in this case.

Brandon Horak

The others charged in this case are Brandon Horak and Markese Tibbs.

21-year-old Horak pleaded no contest to a felony murder charge. He will be sentenced on June 12th.

20-year-old Markese Tibbs pleaded no contest to a felony murder charge. Two other charges were dismissed. Tibbs has a motions hearing scheduled for May 28th.

Markese Tibbs

20-year-old Edwards was found dead near 65th and Sheridan Road in Kenosha on April 14th, 2014. Police say Edwards was driving a car — and ended up driving the car into a home. Police believe the shooting occurred in the area of 58th Street and 11th Avenue.

A criminal complaint filed in the case against says law enforcement officials spoke with Anthony Edwards’ cousin — who was a passenger in the vehicle Edwards was driving and subsequently crashed into the home. That individual told officials he and Edwards had planned to meet up with two men in the area of 58th Street and 11th Avenue to sell them marijuana.

Edwards’ cousin told officials they arrived in the area — and two men approached the vehicle, and Edwards asked them if they had the money. He told police Tibbs showed them the money, and Edwards then showed them the marijuana. That's when Brantley and Tibbs apparently began arguing — and Edwards’ cousin told officials Brantley reached into the window and struck Edwards in the face — before pulling out a handgun and pressing the gun to the right side of Edwards’ face, saying “Or you can just give me it” — referring to the bag of marijuana.

Brantley is accused of reaching into the vehicle and taking the bag of marijuana from Edwards’ lap. Edwards then put the car into gear and began to accelerate.

Edwards’ cousin told officials they got about five feet before he heard gunshots. Edwards then reported he had been shot in the lung, according to his cousin. Anthony Edwards continued to drive and began to lose consciousness — eventually crashing the vehicle into a home on Sheridan Road.

Law enforcement officials were able to track footprints in fresh snow from the location where the shooting occurred to an apartment on 59th Street — and Brantley and Tibbs were taken into custody.

The complaint says Tibbs initially denied being involved in the incident — but later admitted to it.

Tibbs told officials he had over $100 in his hand as he and Brantley approached Edwards’ vehicle — and he says he was planning on buying a quarter bag. Tibbs told officials Brantley was undecided as to whether he was going to join in on the purchase, according to the complaint.

The complaint says Tibbs told officials Brantley asked to see the bag again — before pulling out a handgun and saying “Let me get that” — referring to the bag of marijuana.

Tibbs says the car started to peel off, and he heard the gunshots.

Tibbs told officials he ran to the apartment on 59th Street — and says Brantley eventually showed up there as well. Tibbs says Horak — also at the apartment said “I think you just killed the dude,” and Tibbs says Brantley said “no, no, I missed,” according to the complaint.

Shortly thereafter, Tibbs says the police showed up.

A search warrant was executed on the apartment on 59th Street — and police found a Guardian .32 caliber revolver hidden in a drop ceiling.

Horak told police Brantley and Tibbs wanted to rob someone — and established a plan to do so. Horak told police he made arrangements to have Edwards and his cousin come over to the area. Horak says Brantley and Tibbs left — Brantley with the revolver in his pocket. Horak says he himself went out onto the porch — and later saw Edwards’ car speeding away and heard the gunshots, according to the complaint.

Horak told officials he got a text message from Edwards’ cousin saying: “You killed my cousin.” The man told officials he told Brantley Edwards was dead — and Brantley said: “I shot and saw a spark but there was no way I hit them,” according to the complaint. Horak says Brantley offered him money not to go to the police.

A Medical Examiner determined Edwards died as a result of a single gunshot wound to his left back.

This case has gotten attention recently after former Kenosha police officer Kyle Baars testified that he planted an ID and a bullet during the investigation into Edwards' death. He testified that he told a detective about what he did in October, yet the Kenosha police chief says he wasn't made aware of it until January.