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Milwaukee homicides, 3 killed: Man accused headed to trial
The man charged with shooting and killing three people in less than 30 minutes in two different parts of Milwaukee, which prompted a days-long manhunt earlier this month, is heading to trial as prosecutors are now accusing him of trying to tamper with witnesses.
MILWAUKEE - The man charged with shooting and killing three people in less than 30 minutes in two different parts of Milwaukee, which prompted a days-long manhunt earlier this month, is heading to trial as prosecutors are now accusing him of trying to tamper with witnesses.
Thomas S. Zollicoffer
On Monday, Aug. 24, a court commissioner bound Thomas Seville Zollicoffer, 36, over for trial, after he appeared in court for a preliminary hearing on three counts of first-degree intentional homicide.
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Aug. 8 homicides
The backstory:
Prosecutors say Zollicoffer shot and killed his ex-girlfriend, 26-year-old Vanessa DeHerrera and 29-year-old Scott Cucholz at an apartment near 21st and Pierce on Aug. 8. Less than a half-hour later, prosecutors say Zollicoffer showed up to a home on the other side of the city, near 39th and Townsend, and shot 39-year-old Shamarla Hare.
Zollicoffer was arrested nearly two weeks ago following a stand-off at a relative’s home near 84th and Fiebrantz.
"He initially indicated that Mr. (Scott) Bucholz was responsible for shooting Ms.(Vanessa) DeHerrera," testified Brian Maciejewski, a Milwaukee Police homicide detective. "He then changed his statement and stated he was the individual responsible for shooting Ms. DeHerrera, as well as Mr. Bucholz; and then is also responsible for shooting Ms. Hare."
Milwaukee homicides, 3 killed; $1M bail set for man accused
A court commissioner set $1 million bail for a man prosecutors say shot and killed three people earlier this month, including his ex-girlfriend, that prompted a days-long manhunt.
Court proceedings
What we know:
Family of the victims cried out and muttered curses at Zollicoffer during the hearing. At one point, the mother of one of the victims got up and walked to the other side of the gallery to console a relative of Hare.
Preliminary hearing
The detective testified that there were multiple witnesses at both crime scenes, as well as ballistic evidence and casings – casings that matched a gun recovered when Zollicoffer was arrested.
"That firearm was responsible for the casings recovered at both homicide scenes," said Maciejewski.
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Witness tampering accusations
What we know:
A court commissioner bound Zollicoffer over for trial. He remains jailed on $1 million bond. He’s due back in court later this week for a bond review hearing, as prosecutors want to take away his communication privileges.
On Monday, prosecutors said in court documents that – while in jail – Zollicoffer sent messages to a person, telling them to tell a witness to "stop lying" and later said, "mark my words, I’ll be out even if it’s for a short time, they will pay for setting everything in motion."
The Source: Information in this post comes from the criminal complaint, court records, and prior reporting.