Prosecutors say a Milwaukee teen shot and killed a 9-year-old boy as he tried to shoot another teen, then shot and killed him a week later after a Juneteenth festival.
Seventeen-year-old Damarion Glenn is charged with first-degree murder in the June 13 shooting death of Milwaukee boy Jonael Zambrano, according to a criminal complaint filed Friday. He is also charged with first-degree murder in the June 19 shooting death of Sherrone D. Thornton Jr.
Christian Hubanks, 16, is also charged with first-degree murder in Zambrano’s death. Hubanks is not charged in Thornton’s murder.
The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s criminal complaint links the two incidents through Glenn.
The latter occurred after the Juneteenth Peace Day MKE in Washington Park on June 19. Organizers were criticized for the handling of the event and ended it early. However, they defended their actions and city officials largely supported the handling of the event.
The June 13 shooting occurred at an apartment complex in the 9000 block of North Swan Road. Zambrano died after being taken to a hospital in critical condition.
The prosecution alleges in its criminal complaint that Hubanks and Glenn attempted to fire at Thornton’s apartment building home after he spoke “crazy” about them. Prosecutors believe Hubanks and Glenn opened fire at the wrong house.
The two fired at least 11 shots into an apartment, killing the child, who had just completed his junior year at Greater Holy Temple Christian Academy on the day he died. In a police interview on Aug. 14, Hubanks told authorities that he and Glenn had fired shots into Zambrano’s home, the complaint said.
The document also cites an earlier police interrogation from July 16.
A person identified by the initials “MAM” told police that Glenn and Hubanks confessed to shooting at Zambrano’s home. MAM told police that Hubanks “felt sick” after hearing what happened.
During police questioning on August 14, Hubanks told police he knew Glenn was involved in the shooting of Thornton Jr. along with Noah Shotwell, 15.
Shotwell was charged in late June with first-degree manslaughter for his involvement in the gunshot death of Thornton, telling police, “I had a gun. I shot it.”
Shotwell later told police that Glenn was the one who shot Thornton that day. According to the complaint, Shotwell is seen in police drone footage firing second shots at the victim.
Both Glenn and Hubanks are also charged with recklessly endangering safety as an accessory to a crime.
An arrest warrant was issued for Glenn on Monday. He was not in custody as of late Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, Hubanks has a preliminary hearing scheduled for August 28. His bail has been set at $300,000.
Onterio Girley, 17, also faces multiple charges related to the Juneteenth shooting, including first-degree reckless endangerment of safety, for firing shots that wounded Shotwell in retaliation for the shooting of Thornton Jr., authorities said. Girley’s next court appearance is Sept. 5 for a scheduling conference.
Shotwell is due in court on Thursday for a preliminary hearing.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee teen charged in shooting that killed 9-year-old Juneteenth attendee
