Milwaukee robberies, grocery store homicide; men accused in case
MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee County prosecutors charged two men in a case that involves a grocery store homicide, two armed robberies and a high-speed police chase over the course of 13 days.
Nehemiah Randle, 34, is accused in connection to the homicide and one of the armed robberies. Dalawn Williams, 29, is accused in connection to the other armed robbery and the police chase. Prosecutors believe the crimes are connected.
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Timeline
Nov. 21, 2024: First armed robbery
Police were called to a motel near 60th and Fond du Lac shortly after midnight. Investigators found a single bullet casing and a small amount of what appeared to be blood at the scene.
Shortly thereafter, a criminal complaint states a victim spoke to detectives at a hospital. The victim said he was walking toward the motel, heard someone running behind him and heard voices say "Give up everything," "Where the money at?" and "Do you want to die?" He turned around and saw two masked men with guns pointed at him.
Nehemiah Randle; Dalawn Williams
The victim fell to the ground after one of the suspects pistol whipped him in the face, per the complaint. The suspects then held him at gunpoint and stole a chain necklace and cash.
During the robbery, court filings state one of the suspects fired a single shot. They then got into a black Honda and drove off.
The robbery was captured on surveillance video.
Nov. 29, 2024: Second armed robbery and homicide
Around 4:30 p.m., police were called to a shooting at a grocery store near 44th and Burleigh. The victim was found shot near the cash register and died at the scene. The medical examiner's office later identified the victim as 22-year-old Saiteja Nukarapu.
A witness said he heard someone say "Give me the money." A suspect put a gun to the back of the witness' head, while another suspect went behind the counter to the cash register with Nukarapu. The witness said the suspect let him go, and he heard a gunshot before the suspects left. He then saw Nukarapu had been shot and called 911.
A single bullet casing was found at the scene. Investigators determined it came from the same gun as the casing found at the previous armed robbery scene near 60th and Fond du Lac.
Milwaukee Police Department (MPD)
The robbery and shooting were captured on surveillance video. In that video, per the complaint, investigators identified Randle as the suspect who held the witness at gunpoint and later shot Nukarapu. The second suspect is unidentified as of Dec. 7. The suspects arrived and fled in a black Infiniti.
Dec. 1, 2024: Randle arrested
Investigators used additional video from near the homicide scene to get a license plate for the Infiniti and went to the address for its registered owner on Dec. 1.
The complaint states officers went to that address, a woman answered the door and Randle drove off in a blue SUV. Officers followed the SUV and conducted a traffic stop, during which Randle was arrested.
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The woman who answered the door later identified the black Infiniti seen at the grocery store shooting as hers and said she had loaned Randle the vehicle earlier that day.
Detectives reviewed the Infiniti's stored data, which included GPS information. Court filings state the data placed the Infiniti at the grocery store at the time of the homicide, which was consistent with what was seen on surveillance. It also showed the Infiniti drove to an address near 40th and Townsend immediately after the homicide, where it parked for a while.
Dec. 3, 2024: Police chase, Williams arrested
Police were alerted that a black Honda with "multiple matching characteristics" to the one involved in the initial armed robbery was seen near 46th and Fiebrantz. Officers spotted it near 44th and Fiebrantz and tried to pull it over, but the driver took off.
Fatal shooting at 44th and Burleigh, Milwaukee
During the chase, prosecutors said the driver reached speeds over 100 mph while running stop signs and red lights. It stretched roughly 10 miles and ended near Lilly and Silver Spring in Menomonee Falls when the driver crashed into a median.
The complaint said Williams got out of the driver's seat and ran, but was soon taken into custody.
Crimes linked?
In addition to bullet casings that appeared to link the first and second armed robberies, court filings state investigators found a number of connections between the string of crimes.
The complaint states Williams had two cellphones in his pocket when he was arrested after the pursuit. Detectives reviewed those phones and found contact information for Randle, including messages that included a photo of the chain necklace that was taken in the initial armed robbery.
Location data from Williams' phone also placed him at the initial armed robbery at times consistent with when surveillance showed the robbery took place and the suspects fled the scene.
Milwaukee police squad near Lilly and Silver Spring
Prosecutors said additional location data from Williams' phone placed him at the home near 40th and Townsend where Randle and the unidentified suspect in the grocery store robbery went immediately after the homicide – indicating Randle and Williams met up after that crime.
What's Next
Randle is charged with first-degree reckless homicide, armed robbery and possession of a firearm by a felon. Williams is charged with armed robbery, second-degree recklessly endangering safety, vehicle operator fleeing/eluding police and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Court records show Randle is being held in the Milwaukee County Jail on $500,000 bond, while Williams is being held on $100,000 bond.
Both men are due back in court on Dec. 17 for preliminary hearings.