The Milwaukee man charged in the fatal shooting of a local police officer entered a not guilty plea in court. Tremaine Jones, 22, is accused of the June 26 shooting that led to the death of Officer Kendall Corder and injured Officer Christopher McCray. Prosecutors have charged Jones with first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, and first-degree recklessly endangering safety. The Journal Sentinel reported that the court found sufficient evidence to proceed with a trial during the preliminary hearing yesterday.
In the accused's recent courthouse appearance, Milwaukee County Court Commissioner Andrea Bolender stated that there was probable cause a felony had been committed, according to the same Journal Sentinel article. This move will likely send Jones to trial to face charges that prosecutors allege are a result of an ambush, where he supposedly fired 16 rounds from behind a bush. McCray, who was wounded in the incident, attended the hearing and was noted to be wearing a medical boot on his right foot, navigating the space with a knee scooter.
The shooting has resulted in the sixth line-of-duty death of a Milwaukee police officer since 2018 and has sparked a mix of vigils and demonstrations in the community addressing the fallen officer's death and the broader issue of gun violence. As detailed by Spectrum News 1, two additional suspects are linked to the case: Bryshawn Tyler and Jermela Kittler. Tyler is charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, while Kittler is facing charges of harboring or aiding a felon. Their pleas have not been recorded as of this time.
Details about the circumstances leading up to the shooting were disclosed in court, as recounted by a WISN 12 News report. Veteran homicide detective Cedric McFadden testified, revealing that the events unfolded after a domestic dispute involving Jones. Investigators discovered a backpack at the scene containing Jones' identifying documents and a receipt for the gun's lower receiver, which was allegedly used in the shooting. "As of right now, we just got the evidence, so we don't know what the police have. We don't know what the investigation has revealed. So everyone should reserve judgment until the evidence is actually presented," Russell Jones, the defense attorney, told WISN 12 News.
As the case progresses, Jones remains in custody with a half-million-dollar bond. His next scheduled court appearance is set for August 6 at 8:30 a.m.
