A late-night birthday party on Milwaukee's west side has turned into a homicide case, with two local men now charged in the shooting death of 18-year-old Tyler Huddleston near 62nd Street and Harrison Avenue. Court filings say an argument over a cellphone outside the house spiraled into gunfire. One suspect is in custody and set to appear in court May 14, while a warrant is out for the other.
Charges and Court Status
According to FOX6, 20-year-old Joseph Mangert and 18-year-old Daniel Martinez-Labra are each charged with first-degree reckless homicide. A warrant has been issued for Mangert, while Martinez-Labra is in custody and scheduled for a May 14 court appearance. Prosecutors say the criminal complaint ties both men to the early-May shooting near the Milwaukee–West Allis border.
Victim, Timing and Neighborhood Concerns
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner identified the victim as 18-year-old Tyler Huddleston, who was shot just after 1 a.m. on Saturday, May 2. As reported by WISN, neighbors said the home involved had been a chronic trouble spot, with police records showing dozens of 911 calls connected to the property. Residents told city officials they want better lighting and more patrols after a burst of gunfire jolted the block awake.
Investigators Point to Surveillance and Witness IDs
Per FOX6, a criminal complaint says surveillance video captured a car registered to Mangert parking near the house, with two people then walking up an alley toward the home. The complaint describes one person with "what appears to be a white shirt or towel" around his head, holding a firearm with an extended magazine. Investigators documented 15 bullet strikes on the front of a home and 21 shell casings in a neighboring yard. A 14-year-old at the party told investigators she later identified Mangert from a doorbell-camera image and named another person, identified in the filings as Daniel Martinez-Labra, as the second suspect.
Legal Stakes and Next Steps
Under Wisconsin law, first-degree reckless homicide applies when someone "recklessly causes the death of another human being under circumstances which show utter disregard for human life." It is a Class B felony that can carry decades in prison under state sentencing rules, according to statutory summaries on FindLaw. Prosecutors will present the complaint to a circuit court judge, who will set bond and schedule further hearings as the case moves forward.
What Neighbors and Officials Say
Neighbors told reporters their doorbell and street cameras captured the barrage of gunfire and that they want to see concrete action from city leaders, not just condolences. Video of the shooting has been included in local coverage, and CBS58 notes that police are asking anyone with information to call Milwaukee police at (414) 935-7360 or Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-8477. For now, Huddleston’s family and the surrounding neighborhood are waiting as the criminal case takes its first steps through court.
