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Milwaukee homicide trial nears end, Graves won’t testify
Closing arguments are set for the morning in a Milwaukee man's homicide trial. Daeshaun Graves is accused of shooting and killing his uncle and then weeks later shooting and killing another man.
MILWAUKEE - Closing arguments are set for Friday morning, March 20, in the homicide trial of Daeshaun Graves, a Milwaukee man accused of killing two people, including his uncle.
What we know:
Graves faces two first-degree reckless homicide charges, four bail jumping charges, arson and mutilating a corpse. He will not take the stand in his defense.
Daeshaun Graves
Prosecutors wrapped up their case Thursday with testimony from Jakia Gates, a woman who said she helped Graves after the killings back in 2024. Gates told jurors she had only known Graves for about a month when he showed up at her door in August of that year with severe injuries.
What they're saying:
"He had tears in his face, he was bleeding, nose, mouth, and his skin was really dark and struggling to walk," she said. "His face was swollen. He was telling me to focus on his feet, which I believe was burned the worst."
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Gates testified Graves later admitted to shooting and killing Quincy Smith near 84th and Carmen in August 2024.
"He got into an altercation with someone, told me it started as a fist fight and then that’s when he continued to change the story up. And then started to get upset with me," she said.
She said she rented an Airbnb and helped care for Graves before police arrested both of them days after Smith’s killing.
Gates was charged with felony harboring or aiding a felon but reached a deal with prosecutors to have the case dismissed in exchange for her testimony.
Earlier testimony in the trial alleged Graves shot Smith and drove away with his body inside the car, which was later found burned.
Dig deeper:
Gates also testified Graves admitted to a second killing weeks earlier, in July 2024.
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"He said he didn’t try to do it, but he ended up shooting his uncle and killing him," said Gates.
Graves is accused of killing his uncle, Darrell Harbour, near 36th and Courtland a month before, on July 15. The shooting was caught on nearby surveillance cameras.
Harbour later died at the hospital.
Daeshaun Graves trial begins; accused of killing uncle, second man
Opening statements began on Wednesday, March 18, in a trial where a Milwaukee man is accused of killing his uncle, then weeks later fatally shooting another man and burning a vehicle.
The Source: FOX6 News attended the trial, and also utilized Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, the criminal complaint associated with the case, and previous coverage.