On a tragic day in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 48-year-old Caucasian female Melody Helgren lost her life. On June 16, 2016, what began as a night out ended in a fatal argument. Helgren and 52-year-old Tony Nollie had been at a bar and consumed several drinks before returning to Nollie's residence located near Sherman and Rohr.
An argument erupted between the two upon their return home. When Helgren stated her intention to leave, Nollie retrieved a firearm from his dresser.
He then pointed the gun at her, telling her she was not going anywhere. Nollie pulled the trigger, inflicting a fatal gunshot wound to Helgren's head. She was found lying on the floor of the bedroom and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. An autopsy confirmed the gunshot wound as the cause of death, and her death was ruled a homicide.
Following the shooting, a distraught Nollie contacted his neighbor and asked her to call 911. He appeared intoxicated and expressed immediate remorse, telling the neighbor, "I didn't mean to do it. I didn't mean to hurt her. I'm sorry! I shouldn't have did that." When questioned by the neighbor, he admitted, "I shot her because we been arguing." He later confessed to investigators that retrieving the gun and pointing it at Helgren was a "very bad decision."
Tony Nollie was arrested and initially faced a charge of first-degree reckless homicide. In September 2016, he reached a plea deal and pleaded guilty to an amended charge of second-degree reckless homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon. In November of that year, Nollie was sentenced to 17 years in prison, followed by eight years of extended supervision for his role in Melody Helgren's death.
