19-year-old Jael Rivera-Jimenez Charged In Several Unrelated Road Rage Shooting Incidents In Milwaukee

Rivera-Jimenez charged in connection with several unrelated road rage shooting incidents in Milwaukee County.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 13, 2024

Milwaukee, Wisconsin – On Thursday, the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) reportred that Jael Rivera-Jimenez, 19, of Milwaukee, who was criminally charged for a May 20th shooting on I-94, has now been charged for second freeway road rage shooting that occurred in March.

According to the MCSO, the May shooting was preceded by a road rage conflict that began on West Greenfield Avenue, in West Milwaukee, when Rivera-Jimenez, allegedly cut off the victim's car with his SUV. Both vehicles proceeded along Greenfield Avenue, onto West National Avenue, and onto State Highway 175. 

At approximately 7:23 AM, the victim, 25, attempted to take the south-to-west ramp in the Stadium Interchange, when Rivera-Jimenez, whose SUV was two lanes over, allegedly lowered his window and fired a handgun toward the victim's vehicle, causing a pickup truck in the lane between them to abruptly brake.

The pickup truck was not struck, but the victim's vehicle, which also carried two passengers, was struck at least three times. The victim then exited the freeway near downtown Milwaukee and phoned 911 to report the incident.

Ultimately, the investigation led MCSO detectives to Rivera-Jimenez's southside home, where the SUV was located, and he was taken into custody. The criminal complaint says, that Rivera-Jimenez acknowledged to detectives that he had been involved in the road rage incident and confessed to firing at the victim's car because he was angry one of the passengers in the victim's car had made an obscene hand gesture toward him.

Rivera-Jimenez was charged with four felony counts: three counts of First Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety, Use of a Dangerous Weapon, and one count of Endangering Safety by Use of Dangerous Weapon (From Vehicle, at or Toward Building or Vehicle), with each count carrying potential penalties of up to 12 years and six months imprisonment, a $25,000 fine, or both.

Upon taking Rivera-Jimenez into custody and securing his vehicle, investigators were able to connect both to a separate, March 24th road rage shooting on northbound I-43 and West Capitol Drive, in which Rivera-Jimenez allegedly fired at and struck another vehicle, whose occupants were uninjured. Rivera-Jimenez has been charged with two additional counts of First Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety, Use of a Dangerous Weapon and one additional count of Endangering Safety by Use of Dangerous Weapon (From Vehicle, At or Toward Building or Vehicle). 

Further, per 939.63(1)(b) Wis. Stats., imprisonment for each of these seven felony counts could be increased by up to five years since the alleged crimes were committed using a dangerous weapon.

Rivera-Jimenez is being held in the Milwaukee County Jail with a cash bail set at $100,000, pending adjudication of his case.

Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

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