Kwesen Sanders pleads not guilty to drug charges

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- 19-year-old Kwesen Sanders pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, January 20th to two felony charges of manufacturing and delivering heroin.

A criminal complaint filed against Sanders says he was the intended victim of the gunfire that killed Bill Thao.

Documents show the gunman who was trying to shoot Sanders for stealing his drug customers shot up the wrong house. Instead of shooting into Sanders’ residence, the gunman shot into the identical duplex next door.

Search warrants uncovered by FOX6 News show Sanders was the focus of Milwaukee police long before December 27th — the night 13-month-old Bill Thao was shot and killed.

A search warrant identifies Sanders with the street name “K-Money” — a member of the “Wild 100s” street gang.

That street gang is linked to two high-profile crimes: a shooting that occurred during a robbery of the Innovative Optique store in Fox Point (a robbery suspect was shot and killed by a store employee) and a case involving a teen killed during a street robbery on the city’s south side.

Sanders was also being investigated as a suspect in another shooting over the summer.

While Sanders’ past is criminal and court documents show he was the intended target of the gunman who killed Bill Thao, it is important to note Sanders is NOT the person who shot and killed Bill Thao.

Police say that person is 21-year-old Darmequaye Cohill. Cohill faces the following criminal charges: first-degree reckless homicide, use of a dangerous weapon — and first-degree reckless endangering safety.

Sanders is expected back in court for a bail bond hearing on Thursday, January 22nd.

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