A Brookfield man is facing a first-degree reckless homicide charge after a Milwaukee man was shot and killed outside an apartment near N. 38th Street and W. North Avenue on Tuesday last week. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner later identified the victim as Patrick Kelly Davis, and investigators say the gunfire followed a dispute at a rear unit of the building.
Investigation and witness accounts
According to the criminal complaint, multiple witnesses told detectives the trouble started inside the apartment when a man some knew as "Nate" and Patrick Davis began arguing over a woman named "Megan." One witness told police the defendant stepped into a bedroom, grabbed a handgun and followed Davis outside. Within seconds, she reported hearing a single gunshot, according to FOX6 Milwaukee.
Arrest, search and evidence
Officers tracked the suspect to his Brookfield apartment and arrested him the next day. Court records state that detectives recovered two pistols, ammunition and more than $62,000 in cash from safes inside the residence. A search of the defendant's vehicle turned up two cellphones and a satchel containing roughly 206 grams of a white powder that later tested positive for cocaine, according to CBS 58.
Scene evidence and next steps
At the rear patio area, investigators reported finding a single brass 9mm casing and a footprint impression that matched the shoes Davis was wearing. The Medical Examiner determined Davis died from a gunshot wound. The defendant, identified in charging documents as Nathaniel Richards, was scheduled for an initial court appearance on Jan. 20 and faces a first-degree reckless homicide count that, under Wisconsin law, carries a potential maximum sentence of up to 60 years in prison, per FindLaw.
Community reaction and what police want
Earlier local coverage placed the Jan. 13 killing against a backdrop of a string of recent gun calls on Milwaukee's north side, and reporters have noted social media posts that appear to link Richards to groups called Kingdom S.I.G.H.T. and Front Favor Ministries. Police are asking anyone with video or information about the shooting to contact Milwaukee Police or Crime Stoppers. The fatal shooting near 38th and North was highlighted in an early roundup of recent incidents in the area.
Legal note
Under Wisconsin law, first-degree reckless homicide is a Class B felony that can carry a maximum prison term of up to 60 years. The statute defines the offense as recklessly causing the death of another person under circumstances that show utter disregard for human life, according to FindLaw.
