Zachary Hays, accused in fatal drive-by on interstate, issues plea to charges in death of neighbor

MILWAUKEE  — A West Allis man accused of shooting an Illinois woman dead during an interstate attack has pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect to killing his neighbor the morning of the drive-by.

Zachary Hays faces a count of reckless homicide and a count of recklessly endangering safety in Milwaukee County in connection with the May 1st shooting death of Gabriel Sanchez.

Online court records show Hays entered a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect during an arraignment Tuesday, October 11th.

According to investigators, Hays was driving on Interstate 90/94 in Sauk County after he killed Sanchez when he opened fire on an Illinois family, killing Tracy Czaczkowski.

He has pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect in that case as well.

Gabriel Sanchez and Tracy Czaczkowski