Two people have been sentenced for their involvement in a mass shooting downtown after a Milwaukee Bucks playoff game in May 2022.
Marquise Jackson, 25, was given a prison term of 22 years, and was ordered 15 years extended supervision afterward. Alexus Jackson-Milton, 21, will serve five years in prison, and five years of extended supervision.
Jackson and Jackson-Milton, both of Milwaukee, appeared in court Thursday to receive their sentences after pleading guilty earlier as part of separate plea deals. Seventeen people, ranging in age from 15 to 47, were injured in the May 13, 2022 shootings.
Alexus Jackson-Milton apologized to the victims for her role in the shootings
Jackson-Milton faced a single charge for conspiracy to commit aggravated battery using a dangerous weapon. She was originally charged with 15 other charges for first-degree reckless injury with a dangerous weapon as party to a crime. Those charges were dismissed as part of a plea deal on April 10.
Wisconsin Department of Justice attorney Jacob Corr asked for prison time for Jackson-Milton, while her lawyer, Jeffrey Jensen, pleaded with the judge to stay the sentence and instead order probation.
Jensen argued while Jackson-Milton was present and an active participant in the shooting, she did not fire her weapon and had no prior criminal history.
“The seriousness of the offense is high, but her involvement is not,” he said.
Jackson-Milton also addressed the court briefly.
“I just want to apologize to the victims, their families, my family, and anyone else present that night,” she said.
Judge Michael Hanrahan said prison time for Jackson-Milton was warranted because of both the severity of the incident and the part she played in the conspiracy to commit the crime.
“Whether or not Ms. Jackson-Milton fired her weapon is certainly a fact to consider, but she’s charged with making a decision to harm or kill others,” Hanrahan said. “The decision to join the conspiracy is the crime, and it’s an incredible serious decision to make.”
Marquise Jackson asked for leniency, but judge wanted to send ‘message’ in sentencing him
In court, Jackson’s actions were put on display in video of him firing an AR-style handgun. Only one bullet in the incident was a ballistic match for the weapon fired by Jackson — it struck a victim on the patio of Elwood’s Liquor & Tap, on Water Street. That person survived, but was critically wounded.
Jackson pleaded guilty in December to one felony count of conspiracy to commit aggravated battery causing great bodily harm using a dangerous weapon and seven more counts of first-degree reckless injury using a dangerous weapon as party to a crime.
Eight other charges of first-degree reckless injury using a dangerous weapon as party to a crime were dismissed as part of a plea deal.
Jackson’s attorney, Jason Baltz, asked the court for a sentence of four to six years in prison.
Corr told the court Jackson’s actions were dangerous, but said Jackson was instrumental in helping law enforcement piece together what led to the shooting.
Hanrahan acknowledged Jackson appeared remorseful and assisted law enforcement, but highlighted the seriousness of the crime.
“The court has to consider the message that it sends to the community at large,” Hanrahan said. “It has to be loud and clear that if you bring a gun to a large social gathering and you start shooting, there’s going to be serious consequences. That message has to be loud and clear to everybody.”
Jackson and Jackson-Milton are scheduled to appear in court July 20 for restitution hearings.
Here’s what happened that night
A man was standing outside Grohmann Tower, 233 E. Juneau Ave. shortly after 11 p.m. on May 13.
According to surveillance camera footage described in court records, two groups of people appeared to converge and take up positions around the man – one coming from the east, the other from the west.
Police later learned one of the suspects had a longstanding feud with the man, who they came to believe was the intended target in the attack.
Milton was part of the group walking east. Included in that group was Lemont Siller and Jackson-Milton, who was the first to pull out a gun while facing the man, records said.
An unknown person who was with the intended target then pulled out a gun and fired shots. Siller, Jackson, Milton, Murry and Jackson-Milton all returned fire, records said.
Milton was seen in surveillance camera footage running east on Juneau Avenue while firing shots. He at one point tripped over a median, but resumed firing after getting up, records said. He was identified to police by the intended target.
There are other cases pending
These sentences bring to four the number of people who are in prison in connection with the incident.
The others are:
- Christopher L. Murry, 24. He pleaded guilty in November to three counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety using a dangerous weapon. He was sentenced in January to 30 years in prison.
- Siller, 21. He pleaded guilty in April to one count of aggravated battery with intent to harm using a dangerous weapon and four counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety using a dangerous weapon as party to a crime. He was initially charged with 11 additional counts of first-degree reckless endangerment, including one count involving injury to an unborn child. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 30.
The case against a fifth person, Terrell Milton, 24, has not concluded. He is scheduled for a show cause hearing on May 25.