Santana was charged with five felony counts in connection with the December 23rd shooting homicides of Long and Walls after a drug deal gone bad, according to the criminal complaint.
By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
December 27, 2024
Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Friday, Valentin Samuel Santana, 27, was criminally charged with five felony counts including two counts for 1st-degree reckless homicide, including modifiers use of a dangerous weapon and as a habitual criminality repeater in connection with the December 23, 2024 shooting deaths of Deontay Long, 24, and Rodney Walls. 36. Santana was also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon including habitual criminality repeater, 1st-degree recklessly endangering safety including habitual criminality repeater, and operating a vehicle, fleeing and eluding an officer including habitual criminality repeater.
If convicted, Santana is facing up to 60 years in prison for 1st-degree reckless homicide, with the modifier of habitual criminality, he could face up to life in prison for each count. He is facing up to 10 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines or both for possession of a firearm by a felon, and up to 12 years and 6 months in prison and up to $25,000 in fines, or both for 1st-degree recklessly endangering safety, and up to 1 year and 5 months in prison for operating and fleeing/eluding offer, with an increase to life on prison for each count modifier of habitual criminality repeater.
A $300,000 cash bond was set of Santana. Next preliminary hearing was set for January 3, 2025.
According to the criminal complaint, on December 23rd, Long went to where Santana had just moved in and knocked on the door looking for Tino, Santana's alias. Santana came out and entered a vehicle where Long and Walls were in to do a drug deal, which a nearby outdoor video surveillance camera captured the heated argument inside the vehicle (SUV/Hyundai) as it left the area and then multiple shots were fired as the vehicle was moving and then it crashed into a nearby pole. Santana wearing a hoodie is seen running from the vehicle with a handgun at N. 38 and W. Nash in the Northside of Milwaukee.
Police found Long's body with multiple gunshot wounds near the crash scene and Walls was located inside the SUV passenger's front side with multiple gunshot wounds. Walls had drugs on him and at least $400 in cash, and 9 spent handgun cartridges were found in the rear SUV seat area where Santana allegedly sat, according to police.
Both Long and Walls were pronounced deceased at the scene. They both suffered multiple gunshots to the head.
Police was able to stop a woman driving a gray Nissan Rogue at about 8:10 p.m. that same day driving without lights on near I-94 and Clayton Crest Avenue. As the woman was walking to the deputy, Santana who was the passenger got into the driver's side and fled the scene and a police pursuit throughout the Southside ended under the 16 Street viaduct and I-94 when he lost control and struck a barrier. Santana then fled from the vehicle and went up an embankment, but was taken into custody by officers about 50 yards from the crash.
On June 6, 2022, Santana was sentenced to 6 years in prison for 2nd-degree
recklessly endangering safety, and 6 years in prison for attempt to deliver cocaine (15 to 40 grams), he served 3 years in prison and 3 years of extended supervision, and 3 years in prison for fleeing and eluding an officer, all sentences to be served concurrently (at same time).
On June 11, 2024, Santana earned release from prison to undergo a substance abuse program.
On September 22, 2022, Santana was sentenced after pleading guilty to 6 years in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felony. Santana served 3 years confinement and 3 years extend supervision concurrently with knownly violate domestic abuse order injunction with modifier habitual criminality repeater, and disorderly conduct.
On December 4, 2018, Santana after pleading guilty to one felony count of possession with intent to deliver cocaine (1 - 5g), and was sentenced to 1 year in the House of Corrections in Milwaukee County. He also pleaded guilty for one felony count for possession with intent to deliver THC (under 200g).
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