Milwaukee police officers shot, Tremaine Jones charged
Officers shot, man charged appears in court
A Milwaukee man is now charged in the shooting that killed Officer Kendall Corder and wounded Officer Christopher McCray last Thursday.
MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee man is now charged in the shooting that killed Officer Kendall Corder and wounded Officer Christopher McCray last Thursday.
Tremaine Jones charged
In Court:
Court records show 22-year-old Tremaine Jones, who FOX6 News identified as a suspect last week, is now charged with first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree recklessly endangering safety.
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Jones made his initial court appearance on Tuesday, and his bond was set at $500,000. He's due back in court for a preliminary hearing on July 9.
In April, a misdemeanor case against Jones was dismissed as part of a deferred prosecution agreement. He was accused of riding around in a stolen Kia and running from the cops in 2021. In a letter to the victim, he said his brother died from gun violence – and he learned "to never make the same mistake twice."
Tremaine Jones goes through Milwaukee County intake court
Tremaine Jones is accused of fatally shooting a Milwaukee police officer and wounding a second.
25th and Garfield shooting
The backstory:
On June 26, two Milwaukee police officers were shot near 25th and Garfield. The officers were initially called around 9 p.m. to a report of a person with a weapon. Assistant Police Chief Nicole Waldner said it got upgraded to shots fired while officers were on the way.
When they arrived and stepped out of their squad, they were unexpectedly shot in an alley. Waldner noted the officers were unable to return fire. Milwaukee Police Association President Alexander Ayala described it as "an ambush."
Kendall Corder
Corder dropped to the ground, and McCray – who had been shot in the foot, leg and back – ran to grab Corder's firearm and protect him, according to a criminal complaint. Backup officers and a tactical team arrived shortly after the shooting.
The two officers were taken to Froedtert Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center. McCray was released from the hospital on Saturday, while Corder died of his wounds on Sunday. Court filings said Corder suffered three gunshot wounds, one of which severed his spine.
A police procession brought Corder's body from Froedtert Hospital to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office on Sunday night.
Shooting investigation
Dig deeper:
Prosecutors said there were fights between groups of women over Jones and allegations of cheating. While at an apartment building before officers arrived, Jones fired shots into the air. The officers arrived a short time later.
According to the complaint, McCray said he and Corder were walking down an alley when he saw a flash coming from some bushes and heard a bang that "sounded like a firework." More flashes and bangs, which were gunshots, followed.
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Police recovered 16 total rifle cartridge casings at the scene "consistent with the shots being fired from the bushes" as McCray described, court filings said. They later recovered a rifle along a fence line that the Milwaukee Police Department Fusion Center later determined was "consistent" with being the gun that fired all 16 rounds. Forensic investigators pulled a latent fingerprint identified as Jones' from the weapon.
The complaint said police found a social security card, birth certificate and several debit cards with Jones' name on them inside a backpack in a nearby backyard. There was also a receipt from a West Allis gun shop that showed Jones bought a gun on June 17 and picked it up on June 19.
Jones was arrested the morning after the shooting at a home nar 37th and Villard.
Officer Kendall Corder, Tremaine Jones
Others charged
Dig deeper:
Milwaukee County prosecutors have charged two other people in connection to the shooting.
Court records show 19-year-old Jermela Kittler is charged with harboring/aiding a felon, and 22-year-old Bryshawn Tyler is charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.
Prosecutors said Kittler lied to police about hiding Jones in her home, where he was ultimately arrested. Court filings also said Jones sent her back to the shooting scene to try to retrieve the rifle.
Tyler's charge stems from shooting a gun from the apartment at Jones, according to court filings.
Jermela Kittler; Bryshawn Tyler
How you can help
What you can do:
If you are looking for a way to help the families of the officers, you can donate to MPA Fallen Heroes, Inc. According to the website, every dollar offers immediate emergency aid for injured officers and supports long-term recovery for officers and their families.
MPA Fallen Heroes Fund
The Source: The information in this post was provided by Wisconsin Circuit Court Access as well as the criminal complaint associated with this case.