Shots fired in Racine argument, man charged
Heriberto Ortiz-Fernandez
RACINE, Wis. - Heriberto Ortiz-Fernandez, 46, of Racine, is charged with first-degree reckless injury for a shooting that happened July 3 near Goold and Superior.
Police responded to the scene and found the victim laying on the ground with blood coming from his arm. The victim yelled, "He shot me man, like three or four times," according to a criminal complaint. A woman then pointed to a man, later identified as Ortiz-Fernandez, standing by a truck. Ortiz-Fernandez was taken into custody, and officers found a gun in his waistband holster.
The complaint states the victim was hit in the wrist, abdomen and the back of his left thigh – breaking his femur.
The victim told officers that Ortiz-Fernandez was "mean mugging" him and the two began arguing before the shooting. The victim said he either "struck or attempted to strike" Ortiz-Fernandez, the complaint states, and Ortiz-Fernandez then pulled back his gun and fire shots.
Officers at the scene noted no defense wounds on Ortiz-Fernandez. A witness said they, too, saw the argument and that the driver of a car, determined to be Ortiz-Fernandez, fired shots at the victim.
The complaint states the Ortiz-Fernandez told police the victim yelled at him to "get out and fight." He said it was not until the victim allegedly hit him that he fired shots. The shooting happened while Ortiz-Fernandez was seated in his truck; when asked why he didn’t just drive off, he said the vehicle was in park and he didn’t think of it.
A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for July 14.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android.
Featured
Racine man accused of threats against woman, fleeing police
A 23-year-old Racine man faces multiple charges related to an incident that happened Saturday, July 3. The accused is Daiviontae Johnson.
Featured
Kenosha tavern shooting: Rakayo Vinson trial date set
A Kenosha County judge on Friday, July 9 set a Jan. 10 trial date for a Wisconsin man charged with killing three people and wounding three others in a shooting at a crowded bar.