Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Corey D. Williams Jr., 18, has been arrested and charged with second-degree reckless homicide after allegedly shooting and killing his 47-year-old father, Corey Williams Sr., in front of the rest of their family. The incident occurred on July 2 at an apartment complex on W. Atkinson Avenue in Milwaukee, just two weeks after Williams Sr. had kicked his son out of the house.
The Tragic Incident
At about 2:40 p.m., Milwaukee Police responded to a 911 call made by Williams Jr.’s grandmother, who reported that her grandson had shot his father. When police arrived, they found Corey Williams Sr. lying in the living room, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his left arm, shoulder, chest, abdomen, and groin. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and a 9mm handgun was recovered from the floor near his body.
Family Tensions Leading to Violence
According to a probable cause affidavit, Williams Jr.’s grandfather explained that Williams Sr. had been caring for his children after their mother was evicted. Earlier that day, the grandfather went to the store with Williams Sr., and later took a nap. When he was awoken by the sound of gunshots, he found Williams Jr.’s mother and her children leaving the apartment, with his mother crying and expressing concern that her son would be jailed.
When the grandfather confronted Williams Jr. outside, the 18-year-old reportedly confessed, saying, “I shot him.”
The Argument That Escalated
Williams Jr. told detectives that he had been kicked out of the apartment by his father about two weeks earlier, and had since been living with his sister. On the day of the shooting, he returned to his father’s apartment with his mother and brother to pick up the remaining children. An argument broke out between Williams Jr.’s parents, and he reportedly “butted in,” telling his father to move so the family could leave.
The affidavit states that Williams Sr. grabbed his son by the collar, forcing him around the apartment, and was holding a pistol in his hand. The father allegedly told his son to “have respect” and “shut up,” then forced him over a recliner chair and towards a dining room table. Williams Jr.’s mother and brother tried to intervene. After being forced onto the table, Williams Jr. said he saw a pistol on the table, grabbed it, and shot his father. He stated that he wasn’t sure how many times he fired but knew it was “more than five times.”
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
It is unclear whether Williams Sr. was holding a gun during the altercation, as prosecutors noted that it has not been definitively confirmed whether he had a weapon.
Williams Jr. is currently being held at Milwaukee County Jail on a $10,000 cash-only bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on July 14.
