Four suspects, accused of conspiring to kill witness to homicide, in court for preliminary hearings
MILWAUKEE -- Four suspects accused of plotting to kill a witness in a murder case were in court on Wednesday morning, November 18th for their preliminary hearings.
Lorenzo Beaton, Shantrell Lyons, Antonio Smith and Shaheem Smith are accused of conspiring to kill a witness to a homicide.
Some of the four also face charges including felony bail jumping, possession of a firearm by a felon, fleeing or eluding an officer, conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and keeping a drug house.
In announcing the charges, Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm said he wants people to know about the good work of the victim protection agency that foiled this alleged plot.
This story began after Antonio Smith was already in jail -- charged in connection with the July 11th murder of Eddie Powe.
Scene of shooting that killed Eddie Powe
Officials say Smith continued to commit crimes from inside the Milwaukee County Jail -- running a drug business and even plotting to kill a witness to the murder.
That witness, Joe Spivey, was also in jail on a weapons violation, but officials say Smith's conspirators bailed Spivey out, so that they could kill him.
Just moments before Spivey was released, the victim witness protection investigators interceded and took him to safety.
Scene of shooting that killed Eddie Powe
"Because of the incredible work of the agencies involved, we were able to prevent a homicide from occurring," Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm said.
Smith's attorney, Daniel Sanders, says his client is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Lyon's attorney did not immediately return a call and lawyers for the other two defendants were not listed in court records.
There is another layer to this story, and it involves the murder of 17-year-old Breanna Eskridge.
Breanna Eskridge
Eskridge was killed a short time after Eddie Powe -- and Powe was Eskridge's boyfriend.
Officials say Breanna Eskridge, in addition to Spivey, witnessed the fatal shooting of Powe.
17-year-old Breanna Eskridge dies after shooting near 12th and Concordia
Investigators continue to work to determine who shot and killed Eskridge. No one has been charged in connection with her death.
This, as officials pledged to continue funding programs to protect witnesses.
"We need to be able to assure the public that they will be safe. Those individuals who most often need our help oftentimes trust the system the least," Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele said.