Karen Bradley, a 33-year-old resident of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was tragically shot and killed on December 5, 2014. The incident occurred around 1:45 a.m. near 80th and Bender Avenue, during what investigators believe to have been a domestic dispute. Police were dispatched to the scene shortly before 2:00 a.m., where they found Karen Bradley lying outside her apartment door with a gunshot wound to the left side of her head.
Despite the efforts of the Milwaukee Fire Department, she was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later confirmed that Karen Bradley died from a single gunshot wound to her left temple, and her death was ruled a homicide.
The primary suspect in Karen Bradley's murder is her husband, 42-year-old Anthony Bradley. According to a criminal complaint, Karen Bradley's 16-year-old daughter, who witnessed the shooting, identified Anthony Bradley as the shooter. The complaint also revealed that Anthony Bradley had a history of selling crack cocaine and had recently purchased a silver and black semi-automatic pistol, which was used in the shooting. On the night of the incident, Karen Bradley and Anthony Bradley had an argument concerning a dispute with a neighbor. Anthony Bradley then left the apartment, allegedly to sell drugs, and later called Karen, instructing her to gather their belongings as he had been pulled over by the police.
Anthony Bradley has a lengthy criminal record, including dozens of arrests and convictions for felony drug possession and felony escape from criminal arrest. At the time of Karen Bradley's murder, he was on probation for a drug offense. Despite being charged with the murder of Karen Bradley, Anthony Bradley remained at large following the incident. The Milwaukee Police Department continued to search for him, describing him as 'armed and dangerous'.
The tragic death of Karen Bradley has brought renewed attention to the issue of domestic violence. In response to such incidents, Wisconsin has implemented new protections for victims of domestic abuse, including monitoring procedures to force abusers under injunctions to surrender their firearms and better linkages between law enforcement and victim services providers. The Sojourner Family Peace Center, a non-profit organization that provides support to victims of domestic violence, has been working with Karen Bradley's family and has requested privacy for them during this difficult time.
