Arsenio Akins charged with murder of Xavier Cooper on July 4th

RACINE -- 23-year-old Arsenio Akins has been charged with multiple crimes in connection with the fatal shooting of Xavier Cooper on July 4th in Racine. Those crimes include first degree reckless homicide, possession of a firearm by a felon, misdemeanor battery and first degree recklessly endangering safety.

According to the criminal complaint, Akins got into a fight with another man near 12th and Grand in Racine around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4th.

Akins apparently had a large silver handgun in his possession and was striking another man with it in their scuffle. At one point, the gun fired and struck Xavier Cooper -- who was apparently trying to break up the fight.

Cooper was shot once in the stomach, and taken to Wheaton Franciscan – All Saints Emergency Room, where he later died from his injuries.

The complaint against Akins indicates he had been drinking earlier in the evening. Just after 11 p.m., he apparently got into an argument with a woman and struck her in the face with the gun later used in the alleged crime. The complaint also says Akins fired a shot in her direction. The "round from the gun had hit the pavement" and "broken chunks of pavement."

Akins faces seven criminal charges. If convicted, he faces up to 60 years in prison.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.

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