34-year-old man accused in shooting near 6th and Jones in Racine pleads not guilty

RACINE COUNTY -- A Racine man charged in connection with a shooting that happened near 6th and Jones in Racine on April 24th has pleaded not guilty.

34-year-old William Lockhart was in court Thursday, May 12th for his preliminary hearing. Probable cause was found for him to stand trial in this case. He will next be in court on June 24th for a pre-trial conference.

Lockhart turned 34 years old on Tuesday, April 26th -- the day charges were filed against him.

The criminal complaint in this case makes reference to Lockhart's lengthy record of convictions -- dating back to 2000 for crimes like obstructing, disorderly conduct, child abuse, second degree intentional homicide, OWI, possession of THC and carrying a concealed weapon.

Police on April 24th were called out to the area near 6th Street and Jones Street.

The complaint states that an investigator believed this shooting stemmed from another case under investigation from September of 2015. On September 3rd, the victim who was shot and killed on April 24th was drinking with another individual at a home on Roe Avenue when an argument occurred between the two, which resulted in the other individual falling from the porch and suffering injuries to his head and neck. That person later died while in a medical nursing home.

The person who died after the incident in September was Lockhart's cousin.

As for Sunday's incident, an investigation revealed that Lockhart was walking his dog near 6th and Jones Street, and the victim was on a porch in the area when he observed Lockhart in the area.

The complaint indicates the shooting victim had his vehicle damaged on April 23rd -- keyed and scratched. The victim apparently approached Lockhart and asked about the damage to his vehicle.

According to the complaint, police spoke with at least three witnesses, who indicated Lockhart pulled out a black revolver and shot the victim in the chest one time.

Police say after the shooting, Lockhart fled the scene -- leaving his dog, and eventually entering a vehicle that headed eastbound on 6th Street.

One of the witnesses was able to follow the vehicle that Lockhart entered, and this witness spotted him being dropped off. The witness continued to follow Lockhart while on the phone with police.

Lockhart was taken into custody near State Street and North Memorial Drive. Police say no firearm was located on him.

According to the complaint, when police spoke with Lockhart about the shooting on April 24th, Lockhart initially denied having any interaction with the victim. When he was confronted with evidence, the complaint says Lockhart became emotional and said the victim was "always trying to start things with him." He indicated that while he was walking his dog on Sunday, the victim had come from a porch to confront him about his damaged vehicle. Lockhart told police he was not in Wisconsin on Saturday, and would not have been able to cause the damage to the victim's vehicle. Lockhart said the victim was arguing with him and trying to start things with him.

Lockhart told police the victim's girlfriend tried to "block him in" with her vehicle, and two of the victim's friends approached him from a porch nearby, and "he felt threatened." The complaint indicates Lockhart told police he believed the victim and his friends had jumped his cousin in September, leading to his death.

Lockhart said when one of the victim's friends "advanced towards him in a threatening way," he pulled out a firearm and fired one shot into the victim.

Police say Lockhart insisted the shooting was in self defense.