Shooting of teenager near Bugline Trail in Sussex allegedly followed drug deal; two in custody
WAUKESHA COUNTY -- Two people are in custody in connection with a shooting that happened near the Bugline Trail in Sussex on Saturday, May 14th. The suspects are a 19-year-old man and a 22-year-old man, and officials say the shooting occurred during a drug transaction.
Niikwame Bell
Waukesha County Sheriff's officials have identified the 19-year-old suspect as Niikwame Bell -- a man who has never before been accused of a violent crime. In fact, last summer, he served as a camp counselor.
The 22-year-old suspect has not been identified at this time.
Officials with the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department said Bell was arrested on Saturday, shortly after the shooting.
Bell appeared in court in Waukesha County on Monday, May 16th for a probable cause hearing. Probable cause was found to hold Bell in custody for an additional 48 hours -- and formal charges are expected to be filed on Wednesday, May 18th.
A probable cause statement filed by the court indicates that the 16-year-old victim who was shot near the Bugline Trail late on Saturday afternoon had contacted someone to arrange a drug transaction. The victim and at least one other person went to the area near the Pick 'n Save store to complete the drug transaction.
One person who was with the 16-year-old shooting victim provided a statement to investigators, and indicated he and the victim walked towards a vehicle, and a black man in the front passenger seat rolled down the window and said: "Which one of you is doing this?"
The 16-year-old boy then said: "I am," according to the probable cause statement.
The passenger then asked that the 16-year-old boy get into the vehicle, and the boy entered the vehicle via the rear passenger side door.
Less than a minute later, a person who was with the 16-year-old boy said the boy took off running towards the Bugline Trail -- as the man in the front passenger seat exited the vehicle and fired four to five shots from a handgun at the 16-year-old boy.
Officials were notified of the shooting around 3:30 p.m.
After the shooting in Sussex, prosecutors say Niikwame Bell led Butler and Wauwatosa police on a chase.
According to the probable cause statement, Bell was apprehended on Saturday after he reported to the Wauwatosa Police Department that his vehicle had been taken in a carjacking at approximately 3:15 p.m.
Wauwatosa police transported Bell to the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department where he was turned over to detectives.
According to the statement, Bell admitted to detectives that his vehicle had not been stolen. He said he and another person had gone to Sussex on Saturday to "smoke some weed," and "buy some dope."
Bell admitted he gave that person a ride to Sussex for this purpose. Bell indicated his passenger had set up a deal for an $800 to $1,000 drug transaction.
Bell told investigators his passenger and another individual had produced firearms and "exchanged shots," according to the probable cause statement.
"He acknowledges that he knowingly drove another person to the Village of Sussex Saturday afternoon. Mr. Bell admitted he was the driver of the vehicle and he came here to the Village of Sussex to participate in a drug transaction along with another person who was a passenger in his vehicle," Susan Opper, Waukesha County district attorney said in court on Monday.
"There is no information as to whether this specific car was involved in the alleged shooting or whether Mr. Bell was involved in what had happened," Kelsey Morin, Bell's attorney said.
The probable cause statement makes reference to statements from citizen witnesses, who indicated their friend, the 16-year-old boy, had planned to "rip off" two people coming to meet him. They indicated the 16-year-old boy was going to sell a quarter-pound of marijuana to them. According to the statement, the victim had planned to take a backpack into the car, and then grab the money, leaving the backpack before fleeing the vehicle.
The statement says that once the passenger in the vehicle got out and opened fire, the victim ran, and was eventually struck by gunfire -- falling to the ground.
The witnesses indicated the shooter then came up to where the victim was laying on the ground, and stood over him -- shooting him in the head.
The statement says Bell told investigators that the 16-year-old boy had grabbed money from his friend, the passenger in his vehicle, before the shooting happened.
The 22-year-old suspect, the alleged passenger in Bell's vehicle and the alleged shooter in this case was arrested Monday morning in Milwaukee.
The area near the Pick 'n Save store was locked down around 3:30 p.m. Saturday after this shooting.
As of 10:30 a.m. Monday, the 16-year-old remained in critical condition.
Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.