Milwaukee Police Confirmed That It's Still Inconclusive Of Who Was Driving NYE When A Vehicle Plunged Into The KK River Resulting In Three Deaths

Three drowned victims were recovered from the Kinnickinnic River after their vehicle plunged into the river on NYE while being chased by Milwaukee police.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

January 4, 2019

Milwaukee, WI -  On Friday, Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales during an event at the Milwaukee City Hall confirmed that it's still inconclusive to determine who was driving on NYE when a Chevy trailblazer (SUV) sought in connection with several armed robberies in the Southside plunged into the river. Chief Morales says that his officers chasing the SUV couldn't determine who was actually driving and the investigation is still ongoing. The Wisconsin State Patrol is investigating the deadly incident.

The Milwaukee County Examiner's Office (ME) says that the male suspect wanted in connection with several armed robberies was the driver, but the ME hasn't release any information how they came into the conclusion that Charles Barefield, 29, the deceased suspect was driving. In earlier reports, it was believed that Shannan Nehmer, 19, a second deceased suspect was driving, since her body was the first to be recovered by a rescue diver during NYE. At the time, police couldn't determine, if other individuals were in the vehicle when it went into the river. It was until the next day on January 1, 2019, the vehicle that lost control and plunged into the Kinnickinnic River (KK) was recovered, police discovered the bodies of Barefield and Anna Melia Hernandez, 2, which were inside the vehicle when it was recovered from the river. Nehmer was also pregnant by her boyfriend at the time of her death. The ME determined that the three deceased victims had died from drowning in the 32 degree cold water about 30 feet under in the KK river.

The deceased victims were involved in a police chase gone wrong and lost control of the SUV on Eastbound W. Greenfield Ave. and plunged into the KK river, according to Milwaukee police. 

Milwaukee police reported, that Nehmer, Farefield and Hernandez were in the vehicle that had been sought in connection with two armed robberies where the victims were assaulted by the suspects near S. 14th Street and W. Greenfield Ave., and near S. 23rd Street and W. Lapham Blvd. A couple was assaulted by Nehmer and a male suspect. Nehmer apparently beat and kicked the head of a female victim before fleeing the area after a witness saw the assault and chased the suspects with a machete. One of the suspects who was armed with a semiautomatic handgun fired shots at the witness, but no one was reported injured by gunfire.

In the first armed robbery report, Farefield and another male suspect attempted to rob a man near a vehicle while he was doing some maintenance work and was assaulted. One of the suspects struck the victim in the face.

Police spotted the SUV wanted in connection with the armed robberies and attempted to pull over the vehicle. The driver failed to pull over around 8:30 p.m. on Monday and fled from police reaching between 80 to 100 mph. The police chase ended when the driver lost control and plunged into the KK river. Nehmer's body was recovered on New Year's Eve and the bodies of Farefield and Hernandez were then discovered inside the vehicle when the vehicle was recovered from the river after 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, according to police.

A second male suspect was not in the vehicle when it plunged into the river, but was arrested in connection with the two armed robberies as well and criminal charges are pending, police reported.

Hernandez was also reported missing by relatives on Tuesday until it was later discovered that her body was recovered from the vehicle after it was taken out of the KK river.