Milwaukee man charged in deadly shooting rampage appears in court – WISN

Incident Report: Triple Homicide in Milwaukee

Summary of Events

1. On the night of October 19, a shooting incident occurred at approximately 9:20 p.m. near 27th Street and Atkinson Avenue, resulting in two fatalities.
2. Approximately one hour later, at 10:25 p.m., a third individual was fatally shot inside a vehicle near 31st Street and Glendale Avenue.
3. The suspect, Michael D. Williams, 26, was arrested on the night of the incidents.
4. Mr. Williams made his initial court appearance on October 25, where he was charged with three counts of first-degree intentional homicide.

Case Details

• Victims: The deceased have been identified as Marcus Smith, 64, Sandy Lee, 50, and Lakendrick Roby, 44.
• Evidence: Investigators have connected both crime scenes through ballistic evidence, confirming the shell casings originated from the same firearm. Surveillance video reportedly captured the initial two homicides.
• Motive: A definitive motive has not been established. According to the criminal complaint, a witness indicated the suspect has a history of mental health and substance abuse issues.
• Legal Status: Bond for Mr. Williams has been set at one million dollars. A conviction on the charges carries a potential sentence of life in prison.

Analysis in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

This case is a stark illustration of the challenges in achieving SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies and provide access to justice for all.

• Target 16.1: The homicides represent a fundamental failure to “significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.”
• Access to Justice: The subsequent arrest and formal charges against the suspect demonstrate the critical function of law enforcement and judicial institutions in holding individuals accountable for violent crimes.
• Community Safety: The incident undermines the sense of safety and security essential for a peaceful society, highlighting the need for robust violence prevention strategies.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The circumstances surrounding the homicides directly intersect with several targets of SDG 3, which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

• Target 3.4 & 3.5: The suspect’s reported struggles with mental health and substance abuse underscore a critical gap in accessible and effective mental healthcare and treatment services, which are key components of promoting well-being and preventing crises.
• Public Health Crisis: Gun violence is a significant public health issue. The loss of three lives is the ultimate adverse health outcome, impacting community mortality rates and the well-being of the victims’ families.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The violence occurred in public spaces, directly challenging the core mission of SDG 11 to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

• Target 11.2 & 11.7: Ensuring safe access to public spaces for all citizens is a prerequisite for a sustainable community. Violent crime on city streets erodes public trust and safety, limiting community engagement and mobility.
• Community Resilience: Such events test the resilience of a community, requiring strong institutional and social responses to restore safety and address the root causes of violence.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article highlights issues that are directly connected to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

   • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

     This goal is relevant because the article explicitly mentions the suspect’s health issues. According to the criminal complaint, a witness stated that the suspect, Michael Williams, “had been having mental health and drug abuse issues.” This connects the violent acts to challenges in mental health and substance abuse, which are key components of SDG 3.

   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

     This goal is central to the article, which focuses on a violent crime and the justice system’s response. The entire narrative revolves around the reduction of violence, holding perpetrators accountable, and the functioning of legal institutions. The article details a “deadly shooting rampage,” the charging of the suspect with “three counts of first-degree intentional homicide,” and his appearance in court, all of which fall under the purview of SDG 16.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

   • Targets under SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

     • Target 3.4: “By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.” The article’s reference to the suspect having “mental health… issues” directly relates to the promotion of mental health and the consequences when it is not adequately addressed.
     • Target 3.5: “Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.” This target is identified through the statement that the suspect had “drug abuse issues,” linking substance abuse to the violent events described.

   • Targets under SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

     • Target 16.1: “Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.” The article is a direct report on a failure to meet this target, describing a “killing spree” in which Michael Williams is accused of killing three people. The homicides of Marcus Smith, Sandy Lee, and Lakendrick Roby are explicit examples of violence and related deaths.
     • Target 16.3: “Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.” The article demonstrates this target in action by describing the response of the justice system. The suspect was arrested, charged with “three counts of first-degree intentional homicide,” made an “initial court appearance,” and had his bond set by a court commissioner. This illustrates the process of applying the rule of law.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   The article mentions or implies the following indicators:

   • Indicators for SDG 3 Targets

     • The article does not provide quantitative data but offers qualitative indicators. The statement that the suspect had “mental health and drug abuse issues” implies a failure in the prevention and treatment systems targeted by SDG 3. The violent outcome can be seen as an indirect measure of the severity of unaddressed mental health and substance abuse problems in the community.

   • Indicators for SDG 16 Targets

     • Indicator 16.1.1: “Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age.” The article provides the raw data for the numerator of this indicator by stating that there were three victims of intentional homicide. It also provides their names (Marcus Smith, Sandy Lee, Lakendrick Roby) and ages (64, 50, and 44, respectively).
     • The functioning of the justice system as described in the article serves as an implied indicator for Target 16.3. The report of the suspect’s arrest, court appearance, formal charges, and the setting of bond are all measures of an institution’s capacity to process criminal cases and uphold the rule of law.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators Identified in the Article
   SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	Target 3.4: Promote mental health and well-being.	Implied: The suspect’s reported “mental health… issues” contributing to violence, indicating a gap in mental healthcare.
   SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse.	Implied: The suspect’s “drug abuse issues” cited as a contributing factor to the crime.
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates.	Indicator 16.1.1: The article explicitly states there were three victims of intentional homicide.
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice.	Implied: The functioning of the justice system is demonstrated through the suspect’s arrest, court appearance, formal charges, and potential life sentence.

Source: wisn.com