In the evening hours of May 23, 2016, a family argument in Milwaukee escalated into a fatal encounter. Robert Thomas, a 45-year-old man, was shot and killed by his 27-year-old nephew, Perry Wallace. The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. in the vicinity of 24th Place and Burleigh Street. Police were called to the scene to investigate a shooting and were directed to a field behind a residence where they found Thomas on the ground.
He had sustained a gunshot wound to the face and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The dispute that led to the shooting reportedly began over a simple request for Wallace’s uncle to shut a door. The argument turned physical, with Wallace admitting to punching his uncle, throwing bricks at him, and hitting him with a metal pole before retrieving a shotgun. He then pointed the weapon at his uncle's face and fired. Responding officers arrested Wallace, the suspect, near the scene and recovered a firearm.
Family members informed investigators that both Thomas and Wallace lived together in a basement and that both had schizophrenia. According to the criminal complaint, family members also stated that it was customary for Thomas to wear a stew pot as a helmet. At the scene, officers noted that Thomas was wearing a knapsack on his chest that contained metal plates and a sledgehammer with a broken handle. Near his body lay a stew pot. Found on his person were a large knife, numerous unspent cartridges of various calibers, and a metal pipe with a bullet jammed in one end. An autopsy later revealed numerous shotgun pellet strikes to Thomas's neck, face, and head.
Perry Wallace was subsequently charged with first-degree reckless homicide. In December of that year, he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree reckless homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon. In February 2017, Wallace was sentenced to 12 years in prison, followed by 10 years of extended supervision. He was given credit for 277 days already served.
