Incident Report: Homicide in Green Bay and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

This report details a homicide that occurred in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on November 3, 2023. It analyzes the event and the subsequent legal proceedings through the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a significant focus on SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Analysis in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

This incident represents a fundamental challenge to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development. The act of violence directly undermines public access to safety and security, a core target of SDG 16. The response by law enforcement and the judiciary demonstrates the function of strong institutions in upholding the rule of law.

Institutional Response and the Pursuit of Justice

• Subject: Christian Rivera-Pica, 41, of Green Bay.
• Charges Filed: First-degree intentional homicide with a dangerous weapon, as a party to a crime. This legal action by the Brown County justice system demonstrates an institutional commitment to holding individuals accountable for violent crimes.
• Victim: Carlos Otero-Aviles, 30, of Green Bay.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being & SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The event had direct consequences for community health and safety, impacting multiple SDGs.

Impact on Well-being and Community Safety

• Violation of SDG 3: The victim’s death from a “penetrating gunshot wound to the abdomen” is a tragic loss of life, representing a failure to ensure health and well-being for all.
• Violation of SDG 11: The shooting occurred in a residential area (1700 block of Western Avenue), disrupting the peace and sense of security essential for creating safe, resilient, and sustainable communities.

Chronology and Investigative Findings

Timeline of Events on November 3, 2023

1. 16:58: The victim, Carlos Otero-Aviles, arrives at an apartment complex on Western Avenue.
2. Shortly after 17:00: A witness reports hearing a sound consistent with a gunshot.
3. Discovery: The victim is found in the parking lot with a gunshot wound. Witnesses transport him to a local hospital, where he is pronounced deceased.
4. Crime Scene Processing: Responding officers secure the scene, finding a pool of blood and a shell casing, initiating the formal evidence collection process vital for a just outcome.

Key Evidence and Witness Statements

The investigation by the Green Bay Police Department, a critical component of local institutional strength (SDG 16), compiled the following information:

• A witness reported hearing the victim identify the assailant by name, stating, “It was Christian.”
• Another witness observed a man matching the suspect’s physical description leaving the scene in a silver or gray pickup truck.
• Surveillance footage and an interview with the suspect’s girlfriend helped police identify the vehicle as belonging to an associate of the suspect.
• Cell phone location data for the suspect at 16:59 placed his device in the immediate vicinity of the crime scene, contradicting his initial alibi.

Legal Proceedings and Current Status

Progress Towards Accountability

The ongoing legal process is a critical step in providing access to justice and reinforcing the rule of law, in line with the objectives of SDG 16.

• Arrest: Christian Rivera-Pica was arrested on July 28. A second individual was also arrested in connection with the case.
• Bail and Custody: The suspect is held in Brown County Jail on a $1 million bail, pending trial.
• Next Step: An initial court appearance is scheduled for August 12, marking the next phase in the judicial process.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is central to the article, which details a violent crime (homicide) and the subsequent response from the justice system. The article highlights the role of law enforcement (Green Bay Police Department) in investigating the crime, gathering evidence, and making arrests. It also describes the judicial process, including the filing of formal charges (“first-degree intentional homicide”), the setting of bail, and the scheduling of court appearances. These actions are fundamental components of building strong institutions and ensuring access to justice, as promoted by SDG 16.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

1. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

   The article directly addresses this target by reporting on a fatal act of violence. The core subject is the “fatal 2023 shooting of a 30-year-old Green Bay man” and the cause of death being a “penetrating gunshot wound.” This incident represents a failure to prevent violence and contributes to the “related death rates” that Target 16.1 aims to reduce.

2. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

   The entire narrative of the article demonstrates the application of the rule of law. It outlines the steps taken by the justice system to address the crime: police officers responded to the scene, an investigation was conducted using witness testimony and surveillance footage, an arrest was made, and the suspect, Christian Rivera-Pica, was formally charged. The case proceeding through the Brown County court system is a direct application of the rule of law intended to provide justice for the victim, Carlos Otero-Aviles.

Implied Indicators for Measuring Progress

• Indicator 16.1.1: Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age.

  The article provides a specific data point for this indicator. It identifies one victim of an “intentional homicide,” a male (“Green Bay man”) who was 30 years old. This specific case would be counted in the local and national statistics used to measure progress toward reducing homicide rates.

• Indicator 16.3.2: Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population.

  The article implies this indicator by stating that the suspect, Rivera-Pica, “is in custody at Brown County Jail on a $1 million bail” and “is scheduled to make his initial appearance in court.” This describes the status of an unsentenced detainee—an individual held in custody pre-trial. His case contributes to the data needed to calculate the proportion of the prison population that is awaiting trial or sentencing.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: greenbaypressgazette.com