Alleged accomplice in high-profile hostage situation captured on body camera video now charged
Alleged accomplice in high-profile hostage situation captured on body camera video now charged
Alleged accomplice in high-profile hostage situation captured on body camera video now charged
MILWAUKEE COUNTY -- Criminal charges have been filed against a 43-year-old Milwaukee man in connection with a hostage situation that unfolded beginning late Monday night, December 7th and into Tuesday morning, December 8th near 76th and Townsend in Milwaukee. Timothy Bunn (who also went by the name Steven) took his own life during that incident -- and the end of the incident was captured on Milwaukee Police Department body camera video. This was the first case where we've been able to see MPD body camera video since the body cameras were implemented within the department.
Lanell Walker
The accused is Lanell Walker, who is facing the following charges:
Bail has been set at $35,000 cash in this case.
Early on Tuesday, December 8th, police were dispatched to a home near 76th and Townsend for a report of a home invasion.
Upon arrival, police went to the front door of the home. A criminal complaint filed against Walker indicates officers knocked on the door, and the door was opened by Walker, who then ran out of the home.
He was ultimately apprehended.
Lanell Walker
Police then entered the home, and exchanged gunfire with Timothy Bunn (who also went by the name Steven Bunn, which is how his name is listed in the criminal complaint), who would eventually commit suicide in the basement of the home.
Two hostages, who live in the home, were found tied up in the basement. One of those individuals had to be taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in this incident.
Police interviewed that hostage who was injured while he was receiving treatment at the hospital. According to the complaint, he was able to tell officers he was in his home, sleeping, when he was woken up by two men who were standing in his bedroom. The victim indicated he felt someone pushing on his back, and he then realized both men were armed with handguns -- one of them with two handguns, one in each hand. According to this victim, the men wore black masks covering the lower portion of their faces.
According to the complaint, the men demanded that the victim give them money -- threatening to kill him.
The victim told police the men were able to get $5,000 from a dresser drawer in the bedroom.
At one point, the victim indicated he was hit in the face and head multiple times with one of the guns, by one of the two suspects. He believed he was hit in the face and head "20 times" during the ordeal, according to the complaint.
The complaint indicates this victim lost vision in his left eye.
Eventually, this victim and his wife were tied up and taken to the basement.
76th & Townsend
The man's wife also provided a statement to police.
She indicated around 11:30 p.m. on Monday, she had left the daycare where she works, heading home.
When she got home, she saw two men who came from between the house and garage, and approached her as she was heading into the home. One of the man told her to "get the (expletive) down," and as she did this, the woman said one of the men asked her which key opened the door, according to the complaint.
The woman said the men got her up off the ground, and she opened the gate and let them in.
When they entered the home, the woman said the men said: "Where he at?"
They then entered the bedroom where her husband was sleeping, and began beating him, according to the complaint.
Eventually, the woman told police she too was brought into the bedroom, and the men made her lay face down on the floor, as they continued beating her husband, while demanding money.
The husband and wife were eventually brought down into the basement by the suspects.
According to the complaint, there was a knock at the door, and one of the suspects (Walker) went upstairs. He never returned to the basement -- because the knock at the door was police, and Walker fled from the house, though he was eventually apprehended.
Walker was interviewed by police. According to the complaint, after initially denying any involvement in this incident, eventually, Walker admitted that Bunn had called him asking him to come with him to "do a lick on a person he had been watching."
Walker told police he and Bunn drove to the home near 76th and Townsend, and approached the wife in this case -- demanding that she let them into the house.
Timothy Bunn
When inside, Walker told police he and Bunn went into the bedroom, and woke up the man -- demanding money and drugs.
Walker then told police they decided to tie the victims up in the basement -- when they heard a knock on the door.
The complaint indicates Walker told police he went upstairs to the door, and when he saw that it was the police, he "dumped the gun that he had in the sleeve of a jacket" and he tried to run from the house with his own cell phone, and phones taken from the house.
According to the complaint, Walker said Bunn had provided him with a .40 caliber handgun, and Walker said they found a .45 caliber handgun inside the home.
The complaint indicates during a search of the home, police did find a handgun in the sleeve of a coat in the front hall, near the front door. They also found cell phones on Walker.
According to the complaint, Walker was convicted in 2000 of manufacturing/delivering heroin (less than three grams), and therefore, he is a convicted felon.
Surveillance photo of suspect in robbery/shooting of taxicab driver (left), photo of Timothy Bunn (right)
As for Bunn, police confirmed on Friday, December 11th that Bunn, the man who would eventually take his own life during this hostage situation (the end of which was captured on Milwaukee Police Department body camera video), was the man who robbed and shot a cab driver near 84th and Glendale on Sunday, December 6th.
Police say there was also an accomplice in that incident.
Below you'll see the raw, body camera video -- showing the end of that hostage situation near 76th and Townsend:
IMPORTANT: Viewer discretion is advised
RAW VIDEO: Body camera video from incident at 76th & Townsend
RAW VIDEO: Body camera video from incident at 76th & Townsend
RAW VIDEO: Police Chief Ed Flynn talks about use of body cameras in 76th & Townsend incident
RAW VIDEO: Police Chief Ed Flynn talks about use of body cameras in 76th & Townsend incident
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