There Have Been 18 Gun-Related Homicides In Wisconsin So Far This Year

Editor’s Note: This article is part of a Wisconsin Public Radio year-long series tracking all gun-related homicides in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Public Radio has now counted 18 gun-related homicides so far this year in Wisconsin.

Two teenagers, Anmarie Miller and James Bell Jr., were shot to death on Wednesday in Milwaukee. Police said a building maintenance man killed the teenagers while being beaten with a baseball bat in a confrontation that also involved an acquaintance of the pair. The Milwaukee County district attorney’s office said on Friday the investigation continues.

Speaking generally about shooting deaths where self-defense is possibly being considered, former Waukesha County District Attorney Paul Bucher said prosecutors first analyze whether the shooter believes he or she had to use deadly force.

“You often can prove that (with) recordings, witnesses, just by the person saying ‘I thought I had to use self-defense,’” said Bucher.

Bucher said a second, more difficult question is: Was the shooter’s belief reasonable?

“Would an average person under similar circumstances with the same training have come to the same belief?” said Bucher.

Finally, Bucher said prosecutors have to decide if the force used was excessive.

The defense lawyer for the Milwaukee maintenance man says his client carried a gun as an occupational necessity.

Other shooting deaths this week:

• The sheriff in Barron County said first-degree homicide charges are possible against three people allegedly involved in the shooting of Daniel Raven.
• In Crawford County, authorities said 70 year-old Robert Reagan shot his 68-year-old wife Karen Reagan to death before killing himself with a revolver.