The family of 35-year-old David Krause says the 14-year-old accused in his April 14 killing was mistakenly released from juvenile detention over the weekend, a turn they describe as a "gut punch" after weeks of pushing to keep him locked up. Krause was shot near South 1st Street and Greenfield Avenue while out celebrating 414 Day, and police say three teenagers have been arrested in connection with the case.
According to WISN 12 News, Assistant District Attorney Claire Roehre had warned a children's court commissioner that she was "not confident that if he was to be released today, that the community would be protected at all," and the commissioner ordered the teen to remain detained. The Krause family says detectives put in long hours to track down suspects and that they were told Monday the youth had nonetheless been mistakenly released over the weekend. The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office told WISN it is working with the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department to have the juvenile rearrested.
Krause, a Lake Geneva native who had lived in Milwaukee for about a decade, was shot just after dusk on April 14 and found in an alley near South 1st Street and Greenfield Avenue, as reported by CBS58. Family members told the station he had been out marking 414 Day and took cover from a sudden storm shortly before the shooting. CBS58 reports police took a person of interest into custody the night after the killing while the investigation continued.
Milwaukee police have since arrested three teenagers in the case, including the 14-year-old who made an initial court appearance and two others brought in later, TMJ4 reports. Prosecutors told the court they believe a group tried to rob Krause and that one of the juveniles fired the fatal shot, while the child's attorney countered that his client was not found with a gun. Police say they are still searching for an additional suspect and are asking anyone with information to contact investigators.
Legal outlook
Court filings cited by WISN 12 News show the 14-year-old faces a petition that includes felony murder, armed robbery and attempted armed robbery as a party to a crime. The case is currently in children's court, which limits public access to some records and the naming of juvenile suspects while hearings play out. Prosecutors told the commissioner they want the youth held both to preserve intelligence in the case and to protect the public, and say that if the juvenile is rearrested the detention petition will move forward.
How to help
The Krause family has voiced deep frustration over the release and urged anyone with information to come forward, according to CBS58. Authorities ask that tips be directed to the Milwaukee Police Department tip line at (414) 935-7360 or to Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS, and callers can also submit anonymous leads through P3 Tips. Prosecutors say they are coordinating with the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department to have the juvenile returned to custody as the case moves forward.
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