MILWAUKEE – A 10-year-old boy who shot and killed his 44-year-old mother last week in Milwaukee is charged with first-degree murder as an adult.
According to a criminal complaint, the boy was allegedly upset with his mother for waking him up early and not letting him have something on Amazon.
IN CONNECTION WITH: 10-year-old shoots and kills woman near 87th and Hemlock
The fatal shooting happened near 87th and Hemlock around 7 a.m. Monday, Nov. 21. Police initially reported that the boy was playing with the gun when it discharged, striking his mother. The woman, identified as Quiana Mann, was shot in the head and died of her injuries.
According to the criminal complaint, when the boy was first interviewed, he said he was twirling the gun around his finger and it “accidentally went off.” After killing his mother, the boy woke up his sister, who found their mother dead and called 911.
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Due to his age, the boy was allowed to stay with his family. However, the next day, the family contacted the Milwaukee Police Department with “serious concerns.”
The complaint says the boy’s sister, 26, told detectives he’s had “anger issues” his whole life and “five different imaginary people who talk to him.”
A therapist had previously given the boy a “diagnosis of concern” and the mother had placed cameras inside the home to watch him, according to the complaint. Two weeks before the woman’s murder, “someone disconnected these cameras.”
The sister also told detectives that she learned that the morning after their mother’s death, the boy logged into their mother’s Amazon account and ordered an Oculus virtual reality headset.
The complaint says a family member also claimed the boy would pick up the puppy by its tail and “spin the puppy around until it whimpered and howled in pain.” This happened when the boy would have been four years old.
An aunt told detectives the boy never cried or showed any remorse after his mother’s death. The complaint alleges that the 10-year-old told his aunt that he was “actually pointing the gun at his mother.” The day after her mother’s death, the aunt said she apologized for killing her mother and then asked if her Amazon package had arrived.
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In a second interview with detectives, the boy allegedly admitted he took the gun because he was mad at her for waking him up early and not letting him get something on Amazon. He told detectives his mother walked in front of him when he tried to shoot at the wall to “frighten her.” The complaint also says he admitted to getting his mother’s keys to the gun lock box the night before.
Neighbors described the family as average. Steve Frisch has lived near 87th and Hemlock for more than two decades. His quiet neighborhood was rocked last week when police arrested the 10-year-old.
“I’m still surprised when there’s a shooting around, (it’s) usually (a) quiet neighborhood,” Frisch said. “(The family) just asked me how I was doing and stuff like that.”
On Wednesday morning, TMJ4 News asked Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson about the charges the 10-year-old is facing.
“Anytime there’s a crime in the city, whether it’s a 10-year-old or someone much older, it’s concerning,” Mayor Johnson said. “I don’t want people to get hurt. As for this case, I’m just learning about it. I have the details this morning.”
The 10-year-old was charged with first-degree reckless homicide. If convicted, he faces up to 60 years in prison.
He had an initial court appearance Friday and bail was set at $50,000 cash. He will appear in court for a status hearing on December 7.
TMJ4 News has chosen not to name the suspect at this time due to his age. Read our “Before” policy here. In Wisconsin, you can be charged as an adult if you are 17 and older. Charging someone under 17 is rare – and 10 years virtually unheard of.