Emanuel Romo And Alonso Sandoval Pleaded Guilty In Straw Gun Purchase Involved In MPD Officer Shooting

Several men pleaded guilty in federal court for a straw gun purchase in January of 2014.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

October 5, 2016

Milwaukee, WI - On Wednesday, Emanuel Romo, 24, and Alonso Sandoval, 22, pleaded guilty in federal court for what prosecutors was a straw buy of a handgun. According to the federal indictment, Romo purchased a SR-22 Ruger, 22 Caliber handgun at Shooters Shop in West Allis on January 2014, which actually was intended for Sandoval who had a felony drug charge pending, which he later pleaded guilty, was sentenced to one year in prison, but it was stayed and received probation. Sandoval who is Romo's cousin was with Romo when he bought the gun. 

Sandoval later sold the weapon to another individual, which eventually ended up in Tomas A. Rivera Uriegas, 20, possession who committed suicide by a self-inflicted wound to the head on July 17, 2016 shortly after firing the SR-22 five times at Milwaukee Police Officer Brandon Baranowski. Officer Baranowski survived the shooting, he was sitting in his police vehicle when Uriegas walked up to him and shot him twice in the arm, grazed him in the forehead and two other bullets hit a bullet proof vest.

Officer Baranowski was investigating a domestic abuse call at the 1700 block of W. Morgan involving Uriegas and his former girlfriend who had a child with him. Uriegas had felony charge pending for aggravated battery and was prohibited from owning or possessing a weapon as well. According to court records, Uriegas was put on bond and planned to plea guilty on the battery charge involving his mother's boyfriend. The mother's boyfriend was temporarily paralyzed from the injuries. The aggravated battery charge was later dismissed by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office after Uriegas death was reported.

Romo is facing up to 10 years in a federal prison on one felony count for making false statements in a gun purchase, which he admitted the gun was for him when in fact it was not and $250,000 in fines. Sandoval is facing up to 10 years in prison for one felony count of possession of a weapon involved in interstate commerce when prohibited and up to $250,000 in fines.

The handgun used by Uriegas was traced by the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) Intelligence Fusion Center and the ATF, according MPD.

Wrongly Convicted Daryl Holloway Freed In WI After Serving 24 Years In Prison

DNA proved Holloway was innocent after serving 24 years in prison of a 120 year sentence for sexual assault.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

October 5, 2016

Green Bay, WI - Wrongly convicted in 1993, Daryl Holloway, 48, freed after serving 24 years in prison for sexual assault in Milwaukee County, WI and sentenced to 120 years. The Innocent Project in Wisconsin helped get Holloway's case overturned after DNA proved he was innocent.
Holloway walked out a free man from the Green Bay Correctional Institution (prison) on Wednesday morning. Members of the Innocent Project and reporters were there to greet and interview him.
Under WI law, Holloway and wrongly convicted victims can only be compensated in the amount of $25,000 ($5K per year, capped at $25K) and get no medical benefits for any treatment and rehabilitation needed to adjust back into society.

Creepy Clowns Threaten To Kill Students From Greenwood School On Friday

Waukegan police are investigating an incident reported by Greenwood School students that three creepy clowns had threaten them by saying that they would be killed on Friday.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

October 4, 2016

Waukegan, Illinois - On Tuesday, Waukegan police confirmed that their criminal investigation unit is investigating a serious clown threat reported by several Greenwood School students at 1919 North Ave. According to police, around 1:50 p.m. the students in outdoor recess were approached by three creepy clowns who threaten to kill the student on Friday. One student told police, that the clowns had a knife and a gun.

Police in a press release say, "Children at recess reported to staff that three individuals dressed in clown masks stood at the edge of the property and taunted them.  The children reported that one of them had a knife, one had a briefcase, and one had a gun "in his pocket".  It is unknown if the knife was real or if the one clown was armed with a handgun.  The school was briefly placed on lock down until officers could check the immediate area."

Police confirmed, so far there is no video or photos of the incident, but say that the creepy clowns fled in a black SUV. More police patrols will be added around the school area.

The Waukegan School District sent out a letter to parents in the district letting them know that a school was placed on temporary lock down.

César E. Chavez Outdoor Bronze Statue Overcrowded By Merchants At El Rey Location

El Rey store management allowing for merchants to overcrowd the outdoor market plaza where the bronze statue of César E. Chavez is located.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

October 4, 2016

Milwaukee, WI - Members of the Hispanic community in Milwaukee's Southside have noticed that outdoor merchants on occasion are allowed to set up shop in close proximity of the César E. Chavez bronze statue along the 900 block of S. César E. Chavez Drive at the popular El Rey Super Mercado grocery store. The City of Milwaukee is the eight city to have a full life size bronze statue of the United Farm Workers (UFW) leader who passed away on April 23, 1993. It cost the Farm Project at least $50,000 to create and install the Chavez Statue on Chavez Drive, but it seems that people are not to happy that merchants set up outdoor events so close to the proximity of the statue that it portrays some disrespect for the deceased UFW leader.

The El Rey outdoor market plaza is still being designed by the Farm Project to accommodate the surroundings of the Chavez Statue. No temporary name marker or any detail information about the statue for the public interest has been installed at the location other than a faded window poster of Chavez, but it doesn't mention the statue.
Olivia Villarreal, the El Rey Holdings Corporate Secretary told Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) on Tuesday that they do let vendors use the sidewalk in front of the entrance, but that some vendors do take advantage when management leaves. She confirmed that she will discuss the matter with her husband, Ernesto Villarreal and will make sure that store security keeps the proximity of the Chavez Statue cleared and move any vendors from the statue area in the future. Olivia thanked HNNUSA for bringing up the matter.
"We are working to finalize design plans with the community and El Rey and to assure that resources are in place to create the placita (El Rey's outdoor Plaza) with landscaping and seating to surround the sculpture and to make sure that adequate descriptions of Cesar are part of that plan as well...we are currently seeking funding for this phase of the project," stated Julio Maldonado, a Board member for the César E. Chavez Business Improvement District #38.

Maldonado confirmed, that the BID #38 priority is to place a name plate/marker while the BID #38 continues to get price quotes for the remaining project cost and funding efforts continue. No definate date for a marker to identify Chavez was estimated other than soon, according to Maldonado.

Motorcycle Driver Ran Stop Light And Was Struck In A Hit-and-Run In Milwaukee's Southside

Hit-and-run reported by police after motorcycle driver was struck after running a stop light.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

October 4, 2016

Milwaukee, WI - On Monday, a motorcycle driver was struck by an SUV after he ran a stop light in Milwaukee's Southside. Police are investigating a hit-and-run after an SUV driver was heading northbound on S. Muskego Ave. stuck a motorcycle driver heading westbound on W. Mitchell Street around 9:00 p.m.

According to police, the motorcycle driver failed to stop at the intersection and passed several vehicles who were stop on a red light. As the motorcycle driver crossed the intersection on a red light, the SUV driver who had a green light struck him. The SUV driver briefly stopped, but immediately fled the scene, according to police.

Police are reviewing multiple business video surveillance footage near the intersection to identify the SUV driver.

The injured motorcycle driver in his early 20's was not wearing a helmet and was taken to a local hospital.

Fans In Philly Destroyed Rented Sound And Lighting Equipment After Gerardo Ortiz Had A No Show

Multiple fans got upset and began to destroy rented sound and lighting equipment at a dance event in Philadelphia, which Gerardo Ortiz, one of the artists was a no show.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

October 2, 2016

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - On Saturday, dozens of Gerardo Ortiz fans became upset and began to destroy rented sound and lighting equipment after paying up to $50 to see him perform, but Ortiz was a no show. The dance event was held at the Explanada de Philadelphia and both Gerardo Ortiz and the Banda Machos were suppose to perform. Banda Machos did play at the gig, but Ortiz had a no show.

The Ortiz fans wanted their money refunded, but the dance promoters, Zamora Entertainment and PESAN Production, Inc. failed to do any refunds to disgruntled Ortiz fans.

The Ortiz fans became very upset and began to destroy the sound and lighting equipment on stage. Ivan Lucero posted a video on his Facebook account of the Ortiz fan rampage, the destruction of sound and lighting equipment including music instruments at the event.
The Shinola Promotions also posted a video of the Ortiz fan melee in their FB account.
Both sponsors of the event haven't released a statement concerning the damage or refunds to fans. Police have not released any information about the melee at the dance.

The Gerardo Ortiz official Facebook (FB) account on Saturday afternoon had announced at 4:17 p.m. with a photo of Ortiz and other individuals enjoying beers that they would be at the event later that night. But around 2:00 a.m. on early Sunday, the Ortiz official FB posted an announcement that Ortiz did not appear at the Philadelphia event due to an illness and apologized to their fans for a no show.

The Zamora Entertainment FB account has Ortiz scheduled to perform at a Jaripeo (Mexican rodeo) event at the Newburgh Armory on Sunday afternoon in Newburgh, New York.

Update: On Monday, Rod Rodriguez from Rodriguez Productions in Fort Myers, Florida when contacted by Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) confirmed that the estimated loss of music instruments, sound and lighting equipment was more than $30,000 in Philly. Rod in his Facebook account, posted a personal video recorded along with his staff including his father, that the Gerardo Ortiz band had played three songs, when the Ortiz fans were made aware that Ortiz would not perform, they began to get upset and began to throw beers cups at the group. The Ortiz group stopped playing while Ortiz was outside of the event.
The Ortiz fans went over the metal fences and began to destroy the sound equipment. The light engineer says that out of 20 set of lights, only 8 survived. The sound tech confirmed that all of the sound cables and mics were stolen, a drum set was destroyed, speakers were damaged.
Rodriguez also says that the Ortiz management and the Rodriguez Productions have reached an agreement about the loss, destroyed or damaged equipment in Philly and that they will continue to work with Gerardo Ortiz.
Rodriguez says, that his brother also reported a loss of a monitor and some other equipment in Orlando over the weekend. Edgar Soto, a sound engineer for a group had also reported that all the music and sound equipment was stolen in Chicago, Los Alacranes Musicales also reported that all their instruments were stolen in Texas over the weekend as well, according to Rodriguez.

One Suspect Arrested In Carmelo Silva's Shooting Homicide And Sword Stabbings

18-year-old homicide victim identified and one suspect take into custody.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

October 2, 2016

Milwaukee, WI - On Saturday, Carmelo Silva, 18, was fatally shot around 4:40 p.m. during an altercation inside a residence near the 2400 block of W. Becher Street and several other victims were injured as well, Joseph, 18, was reported shot on the shoulder and face while wrestling for a gun. Esteban Rodriguez on Facebook posted, "My brother (Joseph) tried to save everybody he tried his best so don't ask him questions he is traumatized he seen his own best friend get shot & got shot in the face & shoulder fighting for the gun." The other 21-year-old victim was stabbed with sword. Both victims survived. 

Silva after getting shot managed to run to a corner store and collapsed. One of the suspects was caught by the store video surveillance camera taking the wallet or money of the deceased victim. Police later arrested one of the suspects connected to Silva's homicide.

Silva, the deceased victim was identified by family members.

According to media reports, the altercation was ignited over marijuana. Police haven't confirmed, if the altercation was drug related.