A late-night argument over delivered food in a Milwaukee home near 22nd and Locust ended in gunfire, and now a 41-year-old woman is facing a potential life sentence. Prosecutors say Bonnie Blackwell has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide after the fatal shooting of Charley Collins last Saturday (Feb. 21). Collins was found in the kitchen and pronounced dead at the scene, according to court filings. Blackwell was arrested a few days later and was set to make her initial appearance in Milwaukee County court on Friday (Feb. 27).
What Detectives Say
According to FOX6 and the criminal complaint, Milwaukee police were called to the home around 12:30 a.m. after a report of a shooting. Officers found Collins in the kitchen with a gunshot wound. Investigators recovered a fired bullet near his feet and a single brass 9mm casing in a hallway.
A witness told detectives that Collins had stepped outside to pick up delivery food, then came back in and got into a confrontation, according to the complaint. That dispute over the order is what authorities say escalated into the deadly shooting.
Jail Call and Arrest
FOX6 reports that investigators picked up a key lead from a recorded jail phone call. In that call, a woman told an inmate, "so I just shot somebody last night, and I think I killed him - I am going to be on the run," according to language quoted in the complaint.
Members of the Fugitive Apprehension Unit later tracked Blackwell to Rogers Behavioral Health near 111th and Lincoln on Feb. 24, where they arrested her, the filing states. During a police interview, she reportedly said she heard Collins say someone had stolen his chicken and that she noticed a container of Dr Pepper on the porch. The complaint says she "admitted that she shot the victim in the back as he was walking away" but told detectives she does not remember pulling the trigger.
Charges and Legal Implications
Online records from Wisconsin Circuit Court Access show Blackwell is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and possession of a firearm by a felon. Under Wisconsin law, first-degree intentional homicide is a Class A felony that can carry a life sentence. The felon-in-possession statute outlines who is barred from having a gun and the penalties for breaking that law. The full statutory language appears in Wis. Stat. §940.01 and §941.29.
How This Fits Into Bigger Patterns
Milwaukee’s struggles with violence are not limited to high-profile cases like this one. Reporting by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has noted that homicides rose in 2025 even as many other violent crimes went down, with a significant share of recent killings linked to arguments or retaliation. Local officials have repeatedly said that improving conflict resolution and limiting access to firearms remain central to any serious plan to cut down on deadly shootings, especially when routine disputes spiral into tragedy.
