Deputy Shoots, Kills Defendant In Milwaukee Courtroom

WISN news 12 ^ | May 29, 2002 | Unknown

[A. Morgan]

	Deputy Shoots, Kills Defendant In Milwaukee Courtroom Posted: 11:51 a.m. CDT May 29, 2002 Updated: 12:05 p.m. CDT May 29, 2002 MILWAUKEE -- There has been a shooting on the third floor of the Milwaukee Public Safety building in downtown Milwaukee. WISN 12 News was told that a defendant pulled a gun and shot a sheriff's deputy in the abdomen/groin area. A bailiff in the courtoom shot and killed the defendant. The defendant, a 20-year-old male, was on trial for felony murder and armed robbery.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Looks like Wisconsin has re-instated the death penalty! Hoo-yah!

To bring the rest of you up to speed: Wisconsin had the death penalty for about two minutes after being admitted as a state. It took a long time for the first (and only, I think) perp to die from hanging; and the people were so upset by the sight that they outlawed the death penalty back in the 1800s -- long before that was fashionable. I believe that polls of the populace show the people of Wisconsin to be in favor of the Death penalty, but the Democrats and some RINO legislators prevent the measure from coming to the floor every time it is proposed.

[Bonaparte]

"There is some solace in the fact there wasnt a fundamental flaw in the security," he said.

Sure there was. The prisoner, a convicted murderer, was not in leg-irons.

[ricer1]

>>Wow... death penalty carried out in courtroom.

>LOL! Yeah, not even Texas does that!

Judge Roy Bean was the closest thing to it... but that was back when they didn't have the ACLU.

[makoman]

I wonder how much crap the bailiff who shot the bum will have to endure!

[B-Chan]

I look forward to seeing this story "ripped from the headlines" on Law & Order.

[Catspaw]

Sure there was. The prisoner, a convicted murderer, was not in leg-irons.

Well, leg irons give that trusty clinkity-clank, as does the heavy leather belt with the cuffs attached--trussed up like a turkey & walking like one besides, all that leather & metal. But despite its modernistic approach--all that heavy denier and velcro--you can't beat the ol' stun belt. It just leaves them twitching on the courtroom floor.

[Catspaw]

I wonder how much crap the bailiff who shot the bum will have to endure!

It was the lead detective in the dead guy's criminal case. And how much crap will he have to endure? None or very little. Because it was a shooting, he'll have to ride a desk for a while, but he's got the statements of the Judge, the prosecutor, other court personnel, the jury, people in the courtroom, and a host of others.

I don't know about Milwaukee courtrooms, but the ones we have here in Brown County, Wisconsin, have security cameras in them with tape machines busily running. If Milwaukee county had security cameras in the courtrooms, they should have a tape of today's events.

The DA is going to review the case (that's mandatory), and within a day or two issue a ruling: Justifiable Homicide. You can put your money on it.

[Catspaw]

Seriously, my prayers go out to this guy and his family. The vermin of society really don't care who gets hurt while they go on their little egocentric tour of the world. At least this scumbag is feeling some serious heat now.

My prayers go out for the poor guy and his family as well. He--and the detective (I'd bet the detective was a city cop, given where the crime was committed)--put themselves in harm's way. These crazed idiots are usually going for the Judge, the prosecutor, sometimes their own attorney, the victim's family, just kill as many as they can. In this case, one fast-thinking and fast-reacting detective saved a whole bunch of people, and helped get the guy who was shot quick medical attention. The perp? Who gives a rat's patoot.

[Catspaw]

Here's another update with a few more details.  The detective who was wounded was treated and released from Froedtert. 

Deputy wounded, murder defendant killed in Milwaukee courtroom tussle

From Journal Sentinel, AP reports

Last Updated: May 29, 2002

A man just convicted of murder was shot and killed by police in a Milwaukee County courtroom Wednesday after the defendant lunged at a deputy and tried to take his gun, authorities said. The deputy was wounded when his gun discharged.

Related Coverage

Photo/Jack Orton

Emergency workers tend to the deputy wounded in a Milwaukee courtroom shooting Wednesday.

From the Archives

Co-defendant, 15, sent to juvenile center for role in homicide (5/24/02)

Laron Ball had just heard the jury's guilty verdict when the incident unfolded late Wednesday morning at the Safety Building in front of Circuit Court Judge Jacqueline Schellinger.

Ball, 20, was a co-defendant in the armed robbery and murder of Amon Rogers, 27, who was shot twice in the back as he tried to flee his robbers on the night of Dec. 27 in the 5600 block of N. 91st St.

According to Ball's defense attorney, James A. Hanley, jurors were being polled when Ball suddenly stood up, scrambled over the defense table and took three quick steps toward a window on the south end of the courtroom, then climbed over a jury box and scuffled with bailiffs.

After one of the bailiffs was shot in the tussle, Ball - the deputy's gun in his hand and pointed downward, according to Hanley - was shot and killed by a Milwaukee police detective who had earlier testified against Ball.

"I've never seen anything like this as a judge and I'm not aware of any judge who has seen anything like it," Judge Schellinger said.

The injured deputy, 35, was taken to Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, where he was treated in the trauma unit and later released, hospital spokesman Mark McLaughlin said.

Another deputy and an attorney also were hurt in the commotion, said sheriff's Sgt. Charles G. Coughlin. Their injuries were not serious, he said.

The building, which also houses the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department and other offices, was closed after the shooting.

Chief Deputy Clerk of Circuit Court Jon Sanfilippo said a team of county mental health specialists was called to counsel the jurors in the case.

"They sat on a jury. They went through their civic duty and performed what was asked of them. The judgment was read. The next thing they know there was shooting," Sanfilippo said.

"I'm sure everyone was scared to death."

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Carl Ashley, whose courtroom is in a nearby building in the complex, said security can always be improved. But he feels safe in his courtroom.

"The elements of our society permeate the court system. We don't always have good players in here," Ashley said. "There is always some risk."

"There is some solace in the fact there wasn't a fundamental flaw in the security," he said.

In addition to Wednesday's murder verdict, Ball faced a jury trial next month on different felony charges of eluding an officer and escape. His record showed nine felony criminal complaints and five misdemeanor complaints filed against him in adult court since 1999.

More complete coverage of this developing story will appear online during the day and in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in the morning.

[My2Cents]

Saves the state the cost of a trial.

[VMI70]

The brood mare mother should have been shot also. I would recommend same for the father, but...oh, never mind.

[princess leah]

How about this headline "CASE IS A DEAD ENDER"

[Trust but Verify]

Here's the latest......

Everyone knew the guy was an escape risk, and precautions had been taken, including the perp wearing a stun belt. But today, lo and behond, he didn't have the stun belt on. So he tried to escape by crashing himself through a third story window. Unable to break the window, he wrestled the bailiff(Sheriff's deputy)for the gun. You all know the rest of the story.

But here's the corker: The debate is now being centered on whether the bailliffs should be armed while in the court! I kid you not. This is, after all, Milwaukee.

[LostThread]

He bit one of the baliffs.....
And IMHO, as a Milwaukee resident, I now get to watch the Denendant's whole family, whining on our local news.
I realize they have suffered the loss of a loved one, but have they forgotten this young man had just been convicted of murder and armed robbery?? I find it difficult to have alot of sympathy for these people...*sigh*

[archy]

My guess is that he was not a white guy

Sherriff reported he was a black male.

Laron A. Ball, shown in a Milwaukee County Sheriff's
Department photo, was shot and killed by police
Wednesday, May 29, 2002, in a Milwaukee courtroom.
Authorities say Ball, who had just been convicted of
murder, lunged at a deputy and tried to take his gun.
The deputy was wounded when his gun discharged.
A Milwaukee police officer who had testified against
the defendant shot and killed him after the deputy
was injured, Milwaukee County Sheriff's Sgt. Charles
G. Coughlin said.

(AP Photo/Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department)
- May 29 6:15 PM ET

[Cap'n Crunch]

Wouldn't it have been a hoot if all the juror's were armed and they all opened up on Mr. Ball when he went for the deputy's gun?

Ah, perhaps some day.

[solo gringo]

NEXT CASE

[METARZAN]

Ah, sounds like a Leslie Neilsen scene...maybe call it "Courtroom" instead of "Airplane".

Metarzan

[Bogie]

How the hell did he get a gun?

[CyberAnt]

How on earth did he get a gun into a courtroom?? Amazing!