In the winter of 2016, a 56-year-old Caucasian male named Scott M. Ross from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was tragically killed. On the evening of December 7th, police were called to the scene of what appeared to be a car accident in the 5600 block of N. 36th Street. Upon arrival, they discovered Ross inside the vehicle, not from injuries sustained in the crash, but from a fatal gunshot wound.
Life-saving efforts by officers and paramedics at the scene were unsuccessful.
The investigation into Ross's death uncovered a tragic story of a robbery gone wrong. Ross had reportedly met a 22-year-old woman named Lyneeshia M. Battle, who was working as an exotic dancer. On the day of the incident, Ross had made arrangements to meet her. However, Battle and her boyfriend, Jesse McCauley, had allegedly planned to rob him. When Ross arrived at the arranged meeting spot and texted Battle, she and McCauley went outside to his vehicle.
During the attempted robbery, McCauley fired a gun at Ross. Wounded, Ross managed to drive a short distance before crashing his car. The subsequent police investigation led to the arrests of both Battle and McCauley. Battle was initially charged with felony murder but later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of attempted armed robbery in a deal that required her to testify against McCauley.
Jesse McCauley was identified as the shooter and faced charges of felony murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Phone records and Battle's testimony were key pieces of evidence in the case against him. Battle testified that she heard a gunshot after opening the passenger door of Ross's car and saw McCauley standing in the street with a handgun. Based on the evidence presented, a jury found Jesse McCauley guilty. He was subsequently sentenced to 35 years in prison, with an additional 15 years of extended supervision for his role in the death of Scott Ross.
