In the late hours of a November night in 2019, tragedy struck at Waz's Pub in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, forever altering the lives of those present. Romell OQuin, a 42-year-old Black / African American male, was fatally shot just after midnight on Sunday, November 17th. The series of events that led to his untimely death began with a simple argument inside the establishment located near 46th and Burleigh Street.
The dispute was between OQuin and another man, later identified as Christopher
Stovall. What started as a verbal confrontation quickly and violently escalated. Stovall produced a firearm and shot OQuin. Despite being wounded, OQuin attempted to crawl his way out of the bar, desperately seeking safety. However, Stovall fired at him again, inflicting the fatal injuries. When authorities arrived at the scene, Romell OQuin was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the homicide moved swiftly as Milwaukee police began to piece together the evidence. Surveillance footage from the pub proved to be a critical element, capturing the tragic incident as it unfolded. Investigators also recovered crucial physical evidence from the scene, including fingerprints left on a beer bottle that were later matched to Christopher Stovall, solidifying him as the primary suspect in the shooting.
Following the identification of Stovall, a manhunt ensued. He remained at large for several months until he was finally located and apprehended in Texas in April of 2020. Stovall was extradited back to Wisconsin to face charges for the death of Romell OQuin. Initially, he was charged with first-degree intentional homicide and possession of a firearm by a felon. In a subsequent legal proceeding, the possession charge was dismissed, and the homicide charge was amended to first-degree reckless homicide. Stovall ultimately pleaded guilty to the amended charge. In March 2021, a Milwaukee County judge sentenced him to 33 years in prison, to be followed by a decade of extended supervision for his role in the death of Romell OQuin.
