Javier Batista-Cabrera accused of fatally shooting man near 14th and Manitoba in Milwaukee

Javier Batista-Cabrera



MILWAUKEE -- 29-year-old Javier Batista-Cabrera of Milwaukee is charged with a single count of first-degree reckless homicide in the fatal shooting of Joemil Rios-Santana on Monday, Nov. 18.

According to the criminal complaint, officers responded to a residence near 14th and Manitoba late on Monday, Nov. 18. They found the victim, Rios-Santana, laying on the kitchen floor. They saw he had "several small open wounds consistent with gunshots." Life-saving measures were attempted to save Rios-Santana -- but they were unsuccessful.

The complaint says officers "observed three fired .40 caliber Smith and Wesson casings resting on the floor near the victim as well as a .40 caliber Smith and Wesson unfired cartridge." When the victim was moved, investigators also "recovered a fired bullet underneath the victim, entangled in the victim's clothing."

Officers spoke with a woman who witnessed what happened that Monday evening. She indicated she had been dating the victim for a couple of months. On that Monday, she said "the door to the residence was kicked in and an individual dressed all in black, dark clothing and wearing a mask on his face, forced his way into the apartment." A second suspect, also in black and masked, was present. The woman indicated the second suspect held her against a wall -- and she heard the "sounds of a struggle" between the first suspect and the victim. Moments later, the woman "heard gunshots coming from inside the residence and heard the victim yell out that he was hit."

Fatal shooting near 14th and Manitoba



The complaint goes on to say the first suspect one demanded money from the victim -- and then demanded money from her. The woman told police when she heard the first suspect's voice, she "immediately recognized it as the voice of her ex-boyfriend," later identified as Batista-Cabrera. The woman also said when the mask on the first suspect rose from his neck, she recognized the man's neck tattoos.

Fatal shooting near 14th and Manitoba



The woman went on to tell police Batista-Cabrera had "forced his way into her residence while armed and threatened the victim" on several instances. Police later found evidence of those prior incidents. Investigators found fired bullets at the scene.

Investigators compared the fired bullets from the Nov. 18 incident with those from prior incidents and determined they were "chambered in the same firearm."

Batista-Cabrera made his initial appearance in court on Friday, Dec. 20. He is being held on $100,000 cash bond -- and is expected back in court for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 26.

If convicted on the charge, Batista-Cabrera faces up to 60 years in prison.