What started as a low-stakes dice game inside a north side Milwaukee apartment ended with one man dead, another wounded, and a 38-year-old facing a slate of serious felonies. Prosecutors say an argument over a small amount of cash spiraled into gunfire, with surveillance video and witness accounts later tying a suspect to the scene.
Prosecutors file reckless homicide case
Milwaukee County prosecutors have charged Marcus Berry with first-degree reckless homicide, first-degree reckless injury, and possession of a firearm by a felon, according to FOX6 Milwaukee. The criminal complaint states that one victim was shot in the head inside the apartment and another person was wounded and taken to a hospital. Court filings cited by the outlet say the dispute started during a dice game over roughly 30 to 40 dollars.
Victim identified, family in mourning
Family members and neighbors identified the man who died as Christopher White and said he was found inside an apartment near North 11th Street and West Atkinson Avenue, according to WISN 12. The station reports that White’s full-time caregiver was also shot but is expected to survive. Loved ones have held a vigil and launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral costs, the outlet notes.
Arrest, alleged livestream, and prior conviction
Milwaukee police arrested Berry at a home near 40th Street and Sheridan Avenue on April 20 and found a handgun in a laundry hamper along with clothing that matched surveillance footage from the night of the shooting, according to court filings reported by FOX6 Milwaukee. Ballistics testing reportedly showed the gun was consistent with shell casings recovered at the scene. A witness told investigators she watched part of the shooting on a livestream, according to the same report. Court documents reviewed by reporters state that Berry had a prior conviction in a 2017 dice-game shooting and had been released to supervised release late last year.
What the reckless homicide charge involves
Under Wisconsin law, first-degree reckless homicide requires prosecutors to show that a defendant recklessly caused a death "under circumstances that show utter disregard for human life," according to the Wisconsin State Law Library. It is one of the state’s most serious non-intentional homicide charges and can carry decades in prison if the state proves its case. Defense attorneys often challenge whether a defendant’s conduct meets the "utter disregard" standard, and prosecutors must prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt.
Milwaukee police and the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office are handling the case and have asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers or the Milwaukee Police Department, local outlets reported. Tips can be shared anonymously while the investigation continues, according to CBS58.
