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Trial Starts For Man Accused Of Killing Milwaukee Officer

Jordan Fricke Charged With First-Degree Intentional Homicide

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Milwaukee Police car
Milwaukee Police stage on the city’s south side Wednesday, February 6, 2019 after responding to a call of an officer being shot that morning. The officer, 35-year-old Matthew Rittner, was taken to a hospital where he died later that day. Corri Hess/WPR

A man accused in the fatal shooting of a Milwaukee police officer is going on trial.

Jordan Fricke is accused of killing 35-year-old officer Matthew Rittner on Feb. 6. The 17-year police veteran was helping to serve a search warrant for suspected illegal guns and drugs at a Milwaukee duplex when he was killed.

Twenty-seven-year-old Fricke of Milwaukee is charged with four felonies, including first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree recklessly endangering safety. His jury trial starts Monday. He is jailed on $1 million bond.

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According to the criminal complaint, police announced their presence several times and said they had a warrant. Rittner made a hole in the door with a battering ram, and Fricke fired four rounds through that hole, striking Rittner in the chest.

A judge last month denied a defense motion to sequester the jury.

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