Racine shooting; 2 dead, family holds vigil for victim
Vigil held for Racine shooting victim
A vigil was held for a woman that was fatally shot in an hours-long standoff in Racine on Tuesday, July 22.
RACINE, Wis. - Two people are dead following a shooting and subsequent standoff that occurred on Tuesday, July 22.
The Racine Police Department said on Wednesday, July 23, that both the 48-year-old woman who suffered multiple gunshot wounds and the 51-year-old man suspected of firing the shots have died from their injuries.
Racine shooting investigation
The backstory:
Police were called to Reschke and Prospect in Racine around 11 a.m. on Tuesday for a shooting.
Standoff in Racine neighborhood
Investigators said the 48-year-old woman was located suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was taken to the hospital and transferred via Flight for Life for further treatment due to the extent of her injuries.
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The suspect, a 51-year-old man, fled back into the home, leading to a standoff with law enforcement. Police Crisis Negotiators established sporadic communications with the suspect throughout the incident, encouraging him to surrender.
Racine shooting; massive police presence near Reschke and Prospect
There was a significant police presence near Reschke and Prospect in Racine on Tuesday afternoon, July 22 due to a shooting and standoff.
At approximately 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, the SWAT team entered the residence and found the man suffering from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The male suspect was taken to the hospital and also transferred via Flight for Life due to the extent of his injuries.
Family remembers a mother
What they're saying:
The 48-year-old has been identified by family members as Charmeka Flowers, a mother of six.
A vigil was held on Wednesday evening, where loved ones are still trying to cope with their loss. Her family said there would not be justice because the shooter, identified by family as 51-year-old Johnny Williams, took his own life.
Purple and silver balloons were released into the sky.
"I love my sister. I don’t know what to do. I’m going to need some help," Flowers’ sister, Tanisha Nesby, said. "Nothing like her. She different from everybody."
Flowers was known as the glue to her family and friends.
Charmeka Flowers
"That's my sister, she gone from us," Nesby said. "I’m hurt but I can never hurt more than her six children. These are her babies."
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The family told FOX6 News the two share a 7-year-old son.
"I’m not even gone say he is a man because in my eyes, he is a monster," Nesby said. "That’s a monster to take a mother away from her kids."
Charmeka Flowers
Flowers’ siblings say the child is autistic and may never understand the loss.
"Those are our responsibilities. We’re going to all come together and make sure this is all taken care of, the same Meeka would do for us," her brother Bennie Pegues said. "It hurt bad just to know there will be no justice for her."
The family has now started a GoFundMe to support Flowers’ younger children.
The Source: The information in this post was provided by the Racine Police Department and FOX6 News attended the family vigil on Wednesday.