MILWAUKEE COUNTY (WITI) -- Two Milwaukee men have been charged in connection with the May 2014 shooting death of Eduardo Vital-Cazares. The shooting occurred on May 17th in the 1500 block of S. 22nd Street.
Calvin Clayton
22-year-old Kelsea Smith faces one count of first degree reckless homicide, use of a dangerous weapon.
21-year-old Calvin Clayton faces a felony murder charge.
Just after midnight on May 18th, police were dispatched to the 1500 block of S. 22nd Street for a shooting. There, they found 40-year-old Eduardo Vital-Cazares suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the left side of his head. He was taken to Froedtert Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police received a call from an individual who wished to remain anonymous. That individual told police they knew who was responsible for the shooting -- identifying the suspects as Kelsea Smith and Calvin Clayton.
Police spoke with witnesses, who reported Calvin Clayton had made incriminating statements related to this shooting incident -- which apparently began as an attempted robbery.
Police interviewed a woman claiming to be Calvin Clayton's girlfriend, who reported Calvin told her he, Kelsea Smith and two other people were walking around on the south side when they came across a person that Smith wanted to rob. Calvin's girlfriend told police she learned that Smith approached that person and ended up shooting that person, according to a criminal complaint in this case.
The complaint indicates police interviewed an individual who told them she was on the phone with Smith shortly after the homicide, and he apparently told her he was running "because he thinks he just killed somebody" -- telling her police were going to be looking for him. This person and another person told police they had personally seen Smith in possession of a revolver.
Kelsea Smith was arrested on June 15th by Oak Creek police for possession of a firearm by a felon. During the arrest, a .22 caliber revolver was recovered. That firearm was submitted to the Wisconsin Regional Crime Lab to be compared to a bullet recovered from Vital-Cazares' head during his autopsy. Kelsea Smith's revolver was determined to be the weapon used in the homicide ov Vital-Cazares, according to the complaint. Crime Lab officials also found Smith's DNA on that weapon.
Calvin Clayton was in court for his preliminary hearing on February 18th. The court found probable cause, and Clayton was bound over for trial. He has pleaded not guilty. He has a scheduling conference scheduled for February 23rd. Smith will be in court on February 23rd as well.