MILWAUKEE — The details of what led up to the fatal shooting of an innocent bystander at a Milwaukee youth flag football game are becoming clearer.
Milwaukee police have charged Gavino Avalos-Morales, a 30-year-old from Milwaukee, with first-degree reckless homicide, among other charges, for killing 47-year-old Raysean Barnes.
According to the criminal complaint, Raysean Barnes was attending a flag football game at MPS South Stadium with family friends.
During the game, Barnes got up from the bleachers to grab a bottle of water from a car.
When he was walking over, Avalos-Morales and a group of men began to fight.
Watch: Innocent bystander shot and killed during flag football game
The criminal complaint said Barnes tried walking past the fight.
When he got closer to the fight, Avalos-Morales allegedly took out a gun and pointed it in Barnes' direction.
“This defendant intentionally brought a firearm to a 4th grade football game,” said Karine O’Byrne, Assistant District Attorney, Milwaukee County.
Police said Barnes put his hands up in what looked like a "surrender position". That's when police said the suspect allegedly shot and killed Barnes.
“[…] point it at a person that appears to be completely uninvolved in fisticuffs and who has his hands up, as if to suggest, ‘Hey, I’m not involved in this,’ and he shoots him,” said O'Byrne.
The victim's brother, KG Wilson, says the arrest is a huge relief for his family.
“For us to get justice for Raysean, as fast as we did, was just great news to know they had somebody in custody. The hope was that this was the right person, and so it sounds like it is,” said Wilson.
Wilson says Barnes' death comes less than three years after his six-year-old granddaughter was shot and killed.
“This is almost like the same thing, them being somewhere where somebody had a gun and recklessly and dangerously shot that gun and killed somebody who had nothing to do with what was going on,” said Wilson.
Because the court noted the suspect has a history of bail jumping and past violent offenses, his bail was set at $250,000.
“Firing at anyone, in particular, is dangerous, but the allegations state that you turned and faced the crowd of this 4th grade football offense and fired two shots. It is only through the grace of God that no one else was hurt or killed,” said Andrea Bolender, Milwaukee County Court Commissioner.
Avalos-Morales faces three charges: first-degree reckless homicide, discharge of a firearm in a school zone, and possession of a firearm on the grounds of a school.
His next court appearance is set for October 31.
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