Milwaukee police officer shot; charges filed against Harrel Martin
MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee man is now charged in connection to the shooting of a police officer and standoff that unfolded Jan. 2 on the city's north side.
Prosecutors accuse 25-year-old Harrel Martin of seven counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide; strangulation and suffocation (domestic abuse); first-degree recklessly endangering safety; possession of a firearm by a felon.
It happened near 18th and Fairmount. MPD Chief Jeffrey Norman said officers were initially called around 9 a.m.for a domestic violence incident.
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A criminal complaint states the victim reported Martin was "trying to kill her in front of her kids by choking her" that morning. She said Martin choked her and hit or pushed her several times because she went through his text messages.
When officers arrived at the home and tried to establish communication with the man – now identified as Martin – police said he shot at officers, and officers returned fire.
Police officer shot, wounded near 18th and Fairmount, Milwaukee
Some officers relocated to the back of the home, Norman said, where there was a second exchange of gunfire – and an officer was shot. That officer was identified as 38-year-old Dan Morrell who has been with the Milwaukee Police Department for more than 16 years.
"We don't know what emotions had set this person off, and most of the time, they're committing violence against their own family members," Milwaukee Police Association President Andrew Wagner told FOX6 News the day of the shooting. "If they're willing to do that against their own family members, they're definitely willing to do it against police officers and the public."
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Norman said no one was struck by any officers' gunfire. Martin, who police said has a criminal history, refused to surrender at that time; a tactical response team and crisis negotiators were called in. Martin surrendered hours later without further incident, according to police. There were four kids in the home at the time.
Three of the four kids who were inside during the standoff, per the complaint, were the children of Martin and the victim. The victim also said she was eight months pregnant with Martin's child.
Once in custody, the complaint states Martin told police he "just snapped" when he opened fire on officers approaching the home. Prosecutors said, as a convicted felon, Martin was not legally allowed to have a gun in the first place.
Dan Morrell
Officials said Friday, Jan. 5 that Morrell is recovering at a Milwaukee hospital from a broken femur and a nicked artery. Doctors are unsure of his recovery time – or whether he will ever have full mobility in his leg as he did before.
A Go Fund Me account has been established for Morrell.
If convicted, officials say Martin could face up to 483 years, six months in prison – and could be fined up to $60,000.