Police: August death of 90-year-old Earl Hall now ruled a homicide; amended charges coming soon

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee police say an aggravated battery incident that led to the death of a 90-year-old man is now being investigated as a homicide.

Earl Hall was found severely injured following the aggravated battery that police say happened in a home near 39th and Green Tree Road early on July 5th -- around 4:30 a.m.

Hall died just over one month later, on August 6th.

A 23-year-old woman was arrested at the scene of the alleged crime.

Shameka Hill has been charged with aggravated battery to the elderly, and she now may face more serious charges.

A criminal complaint charging her with aggravated battery indicates she called 911 on the morning of July 5th -- telling the dispatcher her 90-year-old grandfather had chased her with a knife, and that she beat him up, and he was on the floor, bleeding.

MFD was dispatched to the scene, and Earl Hall was taken to the hospital.

Police spoke with Hill, who indicated around 3:00 a.m., she went out to her vehicle to retrieve her phone charger. When she came back inside, Earl Hall was sitting in a chair at the kitchen table. Hill told officers Hall was "yelling loudly" at her, and stating he was going to "put her out on the street."

Hill told officials Hall had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and advanced dementia.

An argument ensued between Hill and Hall, according to Hill's statement to police. The complaint indicates Hill said "they were going to put (Hall) in a home, Hall became "irate," and grabbed a kitchen knife from the drying rack next to the sink.

The complaint indicates Hill told officials she ran to a bedroom, and she and Hall struggled over the bedroom door.

Hill said about a minute later, after Hall had gone back into the living room/kitchen area, Hill came out to see whether he had calmed down.

That's when she says Hall again pursued her with a knife in his hand. Hill told officials she again ran to a bedroom, and she and Hall again struggled over the door.

The complaint says Hill told officials Hall said "I'll stab you," but after about 10 seconds, he stopped.

Hill said her baby began crying in the bedroom, and she worked to secure the room, calm her baby and pack a baby bag -- and leave the house.

The complaint says when she exited the bedroom, Hall no longer had a knife in his hands. Hill told officials she removed a kitchen drawer with knives and tools and placed it on the basement stairway -- before calling her father to inform him of what had transpired.

Shortly thereafter, Hill said she and Hall met in the living room, and he swung at her face and they began to fight with each other. Hill told officials during the fight, she landed approximately six punches with a closed fist to his head and face.

At one point, the complaint indicates Hill told officials Hall indicated she had hurt his eye, so she stopped fighting and grabbed a towel to stop the bleeding.

Hill said she and her father waited about an hour to call for an ambulance because they were trying to stop the bleeding.

The complaint indicates injuries to Hall were inconsistent with being punched with a fist six times.

Photos taken of Hill showed no injury to her or her hands, and no swelling on her hands.

At Froedtert Hospital, Hall was unable to verbally communicate -- but photos were taken of his injuries, and he had to receive stitches to close his wounds. Additionally, he was in a neck brace for a possible spinal injury.

Hill was taken into custody for aggravated battery as a result of the level of injury to Hall, inconsistencies in her statement to officials and the delay in reporting this incident.

On Friday, September 18th, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office ruled Hall's death a homicide.

MPD will meet with the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office this week to request amended charges be filed in this case.

Shameka Hill has a status conference scheduled for September 29th in the aggravated battery case.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.