"We've waited for almost a year:" Jury finds Darmequaye Cohill guilty of killing baby Bill Thao



MILWAUKEE -- Nearly a year after a one-year-old boy was killed in Milwaukee, we have a verdict. A Milwaukee County jury found Darmequaye Cohill guilty on two charges in connection with the December 2014 shooting death of baby Bill Thao.

Bill Thao



The conviction came down shortly after 4 p.m. on Thursday, December 3rd -- less than two hours of deliberation.

The jury sides with prosecutors who argued it was Cohill who fired the shots into a home near 73rd and Mill. Thirteen-month-old Bill Thao was struck and killed as he played with toys.

Police say Cohill's intended target was Kwesen Sanders, a heroin dealer who lived nearby.

Sanders had made a deal with prosecutors in exchange for his testimony identifying Cohill as the shooter, but then went back on that deal in front of a jury.

Kwesen Sanders



The jury found Cohill guilty anyway.

"We've waited all this time for almost a year," Xiong Thao, Bill Thao's uncle.

Thao's uncle is pleased with the jury's decision.

"For myself, I am happy but I hope my brother and my sister-in-law, they are happy," said Xiong.

"This was a tragedy for the family. There's nothing worse in this city than the murder of children," said Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn.

Police Chief Ed Flynn is grateful the jury decided there was enough evidence to back up the charges.

"It was a complex investigation, our detectives worked tirelessly to solve it. It was a remarkable bit of police work they accomplished their mission and they presented a strong case," said Flynn.

Cohill appeared composed as the verdict was read, though a relative left the courtroom distressed.

Sentencing is on January 14th, 2016.