On the afternoon of December 23, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a burst of gunfire shattered the calm near the intersection of 38th and Nash streets. When police responded to the scene at approximately 1:35 p.m., they discovered a grim tableau. Inside a vehicle that had struck a pole, two men had been fatally shot. One of the victims was identified as Rodney Walls, a 36-year-old Black / African American male.
The other man was 24-year-old Deontay Long.
According to the criminal complaint that would later be filed, the moments leading up to the deadly shooting unfolded within the confines of the car. Rodney Walls was in the front passenger seat, with Deontay Long in the driver's seat. It is believed that a third individual, seated in the backseat, was responsible for opening fire on both men. After being shot, Long attempted to flee the vehicle before collapsing from his injuries.
The hours following the double homicide were marked by an intense police investigation that quickly led to a suspect. Later that same day, officers spotted a vehicle connected to the killings. What ensued was a high-speed chase that ended when the suspect's vehicle crashed on I-94 near North 16th Street. The driver, identified as 27-year-old Valentin Santana of Milwaukee, was apprehended after a brief foot pursuit. Another 27-year-old man who was initially driving the vehicle was also taken into custody.
Valentin Santana was subsequently 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. While an arrest has been made, the motive for the shooting and the relationship between Santana and the victims have not been publicly disclosed by authorities. The investigation into the circumstances that led to the tragic deaths of Rodney Walls and Deontay Long is ongoing.
