1 of 2 men federally charged in connection with gun used to shoot MPD officer pleads not guilty
MILWAUKEE -- A gun used to shoot Milwaukee Police Officer Brandon Baranowski five times near 17th and Morgan in Milwaukee on Sunday, July 17th has led to federal criminal charges filed against 24-year-old Emanuel Romo of West Allis and 22-year-old Alonso Sandoval of Milwaukee.
Emanuel Romo
Romo has been federally charged with false statements to a licensed firearms dealer during acquisition of a firearm, providing a firearm to a person who is under indictment for a felony, and unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm.
Romo on Thursday, July 28th pleaded not guilty in federal court.
Sandoval has been federally charged with aiding and abetting Romo’s false statements during the acquisition of a firearm and felon in possession of a firearm.
Baranowski was shot while investigating a call on the city’s south side early on July 17th. Police identified the shooter as 20-year-old Tomas Uriegas.
The Shooter's Shop in West Allis
According to a federal indictment, Romo purchased the gun used in the shooting of Baranowski -- a Ruger model SR 22, .22 caliber pistol, was acquired in January of 2014 at The Shooters Shop in West Allis.
Alonso Sandoval
The indictment accuses Romo of stating on forms that he was the actual buyer of the firearm, when instead, Romo was acquiring the firearm for Sandoval.
According to police, Romo told authorities the gun was for Sandoval, who was with him and could not buy a gun for himself due to drug charges.
Sandoval told authorities he later sold the weapon to a man he worked with -- someone he thought was a gang member.
Somehow, the firearm got into the hands of Uriegas, who used it to shoot a police officer.
Baranowski survived two shots to his arm, two that became lodged in his bullet-resistant vest, and another that grazed his forehead. Baranowski was seated alone in his patrol car when Uriegas approached on foot and fired a gun into the squad.
Officer Brandon Baranowski released from the hospital
Tomas Uriegas
As officers were on scene investigating regarding the injured officer, they heard a single gun shot around 2:30 a.m. nearby. They then found Uriegas, who had suffered an apparent self-inflicted fatal gunshot wound to the head.
Uriegas was out on bond for a felony charge, and was using a gun he was not allowed to legally possess.
Michael Hart
Michael Hart, Emanuel Romo's attorney, spoke out about his client in court on Thursday.
"This is a hard-working guy without a criminal record who purchased a firearm lawfully years ago, and years later it winds up being involved in a police officer shooting. It's a scary proposition. He was involved generations before it ever wound up in the hands of the guy who shot the officer," Hart said.
Support for Officer Brandon Baranowski (PHOTO: Milwaukee Police Department)
Milwaukee police and federal officials traced the firearm, and Romo and Sandoval now face federal charged -- which sends a message about guns and responsibility.
Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn released the following statement after it was announced these men would face federal charges:
"The excellent work of the MPD Intelligence Fusion Center along with the ATF Task Force in tracing this crime gun, will allow us to hold accountable the individuals indirectly responsible for wounding our officer. My hope is that serious federal charges will result in actual justice and deter others who attempt to arm criminals."
MPD officer shot, wounded near 17th and Morgan
"You can never know once it gets in the stream of commerce where it's going to wind up -- but it's dangerous stuff .)
Romo faces a couple decades in prison.
His trial is scheduled to begin in October.