Milwaukee gun sale shooting, police chase; 17-year-old accused | FOX6 Milwaukee

Milwaukee gun sale shooting, police chase; 17-year-old accused

Shooting near 103nd and Silver Spring, Milwaukee

A Milwaukee teen is charged as an adult in a November shooting that killed one person and wounded two others. Weeks later, prosecutors say he led police on a chase across the city's north side.

Editor's note: FOX6 News is not naming the accused 17-year-old because he is a juvenile. He will be referred to below as the Defendant. 

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The backstory:

Police were called to a shooting near 103rd and Silver Spring, where FOX6 News found the scene in a shopping center parking lot. A criminal complaint states evidence, including a fired bullet fragment and drops of blood, were found, but the victims had gone to a hospital.

Prosecutors said three people were shot, including 17-year-old Dominique Watson, who died. An autopsy determined Watson was shot twice in the back. Another victim was shot in the back, and the third victim was shot in the abdomen; both survived.

Detectives searched the Chrysler that the victims arrived at the hospital in and found multiple bullets, and there was blood throughout the car, per the complaint. Three guns and a BB gun were found.

Court filings said a forensic analysis determined that, of the six fired casings found inside the car, all six were "consistent with being fired by the same firearm and also that they were not consistent with being fired by any of the three firearms recovered in the victim's vehicle."

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What they're saying:

A witness told police she saw someone running in the parking lot, per the complaint, "racking" a gun and hiding between cars. She then saw a second person who "appeared to be looking" for the first person. The second person got into a Chrysler, which took off – smoke coming from its tires – as the first person emerged from between cars and fired a single shot at the Chrysler as it drove away. The shooter then "casually" walked away.

Investigators also spoke to the two victims who survived. According to court filings, the victims said they went with Watson to buy a gun on Silver Spring. When they got to the parking lot, they said someone – later identified as the Defendant – got into the backseat.

One of the victims said, when Watson handed over cash, the Defendant "attempted to keep the money and the firearm." He then heard "approximately eight gunshots" and realized he'd been shot. He initially got out and ran into the parking lot, but then got back in the car and drove himself and the other victims to the hospital.

The other witness said they all had guns, and the Defendant tried to take a gun from one of them before the Defendant began shooting and saying he "wanted everything" before he ran off.

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The backstory:

Court filings said police were looking for the Defendant and developed a Honda as a suspect vehicle. They spotted the Honda near 66th and Bradley and tried to pull it over. When the officer activated his lights and sirens, the driver sped away.

The chase covered more than six miles, during which prosecutors said the driver – later identified as the Defendant – ran a red light and stop signs. The chase ended near 41st and Florist, and four people got out and ran from the vehicle.

The complaint states the Defendant ran from the driver's seat, and an officer ran after him. He was eventually taken into custody. The key to the vehicle was found next to the Defendant on the ground. A gun found in the vehicle was later determined to be the gun that fired the six casings found in the victims' car. 

In court

What's next:

The Defendant is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on Thursday, Jan. 30. Court records show his bond was set at $200,000 on Jan. 22.

In all, the Defendant is charged with nine counts:

  • Second-degree reckless homicide
  • Second-degree reckless injury (two counts)
  • Vehicle operator flee/elude an officer
  • Second-degree recklessly endangering safety
  • Felony bail jumping (two counts)
  • Misdemeanor possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18
  • Misdemeanor obstructing an officer

The Source: Information in this report is from the Milwaukee Police Department, Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office and Wisconsin Circuit Court.

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