19-year-old suspect who shot officers waiting trial
By H. Nelson Goodson
January 7, 2010
Milwaukee -On Thursday, Jacob D. Collins, 22, a convicted "Straw Buyer" was sentenced in federal court to 24 months in prison for buying a gun for an 18-year-old man, now 19 who is accused of shooting two officers in the South side. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Manning was asking for a 10 year sentence, but U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman said there was no evidence Collins knew the gun he bought would be used in a crime. Collins was facing 10 months to 10 years in prison.
Milwaukee Police Chief Edward A. Flynn was in court along with 20 other officers during the Collins five hour sentencing. Afterwards Flynn criticized Judge Adelman for not handing down a stiffer sentence. Chief Flynn said that he felt that Adelman's sentencing will send a message that officers are not fully protected by the courts. Flynn wanted Collins to have gotten at least 5 years in prison.
Daniel Stiller, Collins' attorney had argued that his client had the mental capacity of a third-grader and should have been sentenced for only lying when purchasing a gun. Judge Adelman disagreed with defense Attorney Stiller.
Last Summer, two police officers were shot multiple times on June 9th by Julius C. Burton on Milwaukee’s Walker Point area.
Burton was stopped while driving his bicycle on the 900 block of S. 2nd St. by Officers Bryan Norberg, 21, and Graham Kunisch, 26, for suspicious behavior.
Milwaukee Chief of Police Edward Flynn initiated a suspicious looking behavior policy in the department for officers to stop and question people in a neighborhood without probable cause. In this particular case, both Norberg and Kunisch were unable to draw their weapons when they were confronted by Burton.
Burton at the time of the shooting was taking medication for schizophrenia, according to relatives. He was charged with two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide.
Collins was convicted for selling a Taurus .40 caliber hand gun to Burton for $40. Collins admitted to federal authorities he bought the gun for Burton at Badger Guns shop in West Milwaukee.
Officer Norberg had been working in the department for six months and Kunisch lost an eye in the shooting.
In April 2009 another officer was shot, Officer Vidal Colón, 30, a seven-year veteran in the police department was responding to a domestic dispute call in the 1200 block of S. 36th St. when he got into a shooting match with Louis Manuel Domenech, 25. Officer Colón was shot three times and survived the shooting.
On January 26, 2008, Lodewikus "Vic" Milford a Miller Brewing Co. executive was shot to death by Miguel Ayala, 21, during an armed robbery in the same block where Officers Norberg and Kunisch were shot on Tuesday. Ayala, Carlos Gonzalez, 17, were convicted of the homicide and Irene Rodriguez, then 17 was previously charged as an adult, but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
On November 6, 2007, Officers Alejandro J. Arce, 26, and Jose Angel Lopez III, 31, were shot multiple times at the 1300 block of S. Greenfield Ave. by Victor Veloz, 16. Veloz was convicted and is serving 60 years in prison.
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