In the winter chill of December 23, 2024, the life of 24-year-old Deontay Long, a Black male from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was tragically cut short by gun violence. Long was in the driver's seat of a vehicle near 38th and Nash with 36-year-old Rodney Walls in the passenger seat when both men were fatally shot. Investigators believe the shooter was in the backseat of the car at the time of the incident.
Following the gunshots, Long attempted to flee from the vehicle but collapsed on the
ground due to his injuries. The car, no longer under control, subsequently crashed into a pole. The events that unfolded were not just a sudden act of violence but the beginning of a frantic attempt by the suspect to escape justice. The man believed to be responsible fled the scene, sparking a high-speed chase with law enforcement.
The pursuit came to a dramatic end on I-94 near N. 16th Street, where the fleeing suspect crashed and was apprehended by authorities. The man taken into custody was identified as 27-year-old Valentin Santana. Following his arrest, Santana was charged with two counts of first-degree reckless homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon, first-degree recklessly endangering safety, and fleeing an officer. Prosecutors presented their case in court, leading to a judge setting his bond at $300,000.
