Milwaukee landlord killed, tenant charged with intentional homicide
Justin Lannigan
MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee man is accused of killing his landlord on Sunday, Feb. 2.
Prosecutors charged 37-year-old Justin Lannigan with first-degree intentional homicide. He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Friday, Feb. 7.
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
The backstory:
West Allis police were first called to the area of 61st and Lincoln. A criminal complaint states Lannigan called to report that he had just killed his landlord, having stabbed him "all over the body," at his apartment near 31st and State in Milwaukee.
Lannigan told police he believed the landlord had set up surveillance cameras inside the apartment and was recording him, according to court filings, after he did "social media research" on TikTok and YouTube.
Scene at 31st and State
Prosecutors said Lannigan called the landlord to come fix the refrigerator. When the landlord was looking behind the appliance, Lannigan attacked him. He "choked him until he stopped breathing" after the stabbing.
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office identified the victim as 74-year-old David Grosse. Court filings said he had approximately 30 stab wounds, and investigators found multiple knives near his body at the scene.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android
Court filings also said police interviewed Lannigan's family members, who said he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and had become increasingly reclusive over the past few months.
The Source: Information in this report is from the Milwaukee Police Department, Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office, Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office and Wisconsin Circuit Court.