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Victim in Kenosha fatal shooting identified as Sean Bialas; man left paralyzed after cell extraction
Victim in Kenosha fatal shooting identified as Sean Bialas; man left paralyzed after cell extraction
KENOSHA COUNTY -- The Kenosha County District Attorney's Office confirmed for FOX6 News that the victim of a fatal shooting on Saturday, February 11th is 23-year-old Sean Bialas.
Sean Bialas
Two years ago, FOX6 News showed you a video from an incident at the Kenosha County Jail that left Bialas paralyzed.
On Saturday, February 11th around 7:30 p.m., Kenosha police responded to a home near 36th Avenue and 48th Street and found Bialas with a single gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
"Everybody in the house said, 'where are you going?' 'I gotta go take Sean his Valentine's Day present,'" said Karen Bialas, Sean's mother.
That present is now part of a memorial outside Sean Bialas' apartment.
Memorial for Sean Bialas
On Saturday night, police responded to a shooting at his home, and officers found Bialas with a gunshot wound to the head.
Karen Bialas
"I don't think this was an accident," said Karen Bialas.
Authorities said a 15-year-old boy is being detained in this case.
Kenosha County District Attorney Mike Gravely said prosecutors must decide by Wednesday, February 15th whether to charge the teen with intentional, reckless or negligent homicide.
"We're reviewing the police reports. We're speaking to the investigating officers and of course, we're going to look at the autopsy, consult with the medical examiner's office about their findings," said Gravely.
Karen Bialas said Saturday night was the end of what had been a very bumpy road for her son.
"He was depressed all the time. Talked about going to work -- nobody wanted to see him. His friends didn't come around like they should have," said Karen Bialas.
In November of 2014, Bialas was left paralyzed after a cell extraction in the Kenosha County jail.
In the early hours of November 7th, 2014, Kenosha County correctional workers dragged the limp body of Bialas from his cell. Three months later, Bialas was out of the hospital, but far from well. He was a quadriplegic.
The Racine County Sheriff's Office led the investigation into what happened that morning at the Kenosha County Detection Center. According to its report, jail staff went to Bialas' cell after he 'threatened to harm himself.' Bialas refused to be placed in a restraint chair or wear a suicide-prevention vest.
Kenosha County cell extraction -- Sean Bialas
"The jail staff is required by law and by policy and just by human nature to not let someone hurt themselves. It's unfortunate that's what happened in this situation," said Capt. Robert Hallisy of the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department in February 2015.
In the video, you cannot see Bialas once the officers go in the cell. But you can hear an officer's orders followed by Bialas saying, "I can't move nothing."
An outside investigation ruled the jail incident was an unfortunate accident.
Gravely said if they charge the 15-year-old with intentional or reckless homicide, he will appear in adult court on Wednesday, February 15th. If it's negligent homicide, he will go through juvenile court.
Karen Bialas said what's worse: the suspect in her son's death is his cousin -- related through a previous marriage.
"This is really a lot to take in. A lot," said Bialas.
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