MILWAUKEE, WI – An 18-year-old Milwaukee man is facing a homicide charge after authorities say he fatally shot his father during a heated altercation inside a family apartment last week.
Corey D. Williams Jr. was arrested and charged with second-degree reckless homicide with a dangerous weapon. Police say the shooting, which left 47-year-old Corey Williams Sr. dead at the scene, occurred around 2:40 p.m. on July 2 in an apartment complex located on W. Atkinson Avenue.
Officers responded to a 911 call made by Williams Jr.’s grandmother, who reported the incident to emergency dispatchers, stating her grandson had shot his father inside the apartment. When police arrived, they found Williams Sr. in the living room suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators recovered a 9mm handgun near the body.
Family members interviewed by detectives provided additional details about the events leading up to the shooting. Williams Jr.’s grandfather recounted that Williams Sr. had been taking care of his children at the apartment after their mother was evicted. According to the grandfather, he was woken by gunshots after returning from the store and taking a nap. As he made his way outside, he encountered Williams Jr.’s mother and the children descending the stairs in distress.
The grandfather told police that Williams Jr.’s mother was visibly upset and expressed concern that her son was “going to jail.” When the grandfather later saw Williams Jr., the teen reportedly admitted, “I shot him,” referring to his father.
Williams Jr. provided further insight during a subsequent interview with detectives. He explained that he had previously lived in the apartment with his father but was asked to leave about two weeks before the shooting. On the afternoon of the incident, he returned to the apartment with his mother and brother to pick up his siblings.
The confrontation began after Williams Jr.’s parents started arguing. The teen told police he intervened in the dispute, prompting his father to physically confront him. According to Williams Jr., his father grabbed him by the collar and shoved him while holding a pistol. The altercation escalated, with Williams Jr. being forced onto a recliner and then toward a dining table, as family members tried to intervene.
Williams Jr. told authorities that, at some point during the struggle, he noticed a pistol on the dining table, seized it, and opened fire on his father. He estimated shooting his father “more than five times,” though he was uncertain of the exact number of shots.
Prosecutors indicated that it remains unclear whether Williams Sr. was armed at the time of the shooting. However, investigators found a firearm at the scene.
Williams Jr. is currently being held at the Milwaukee County Jail on a $10,000 cash-only bond. A preliminary court appearance is scheduled for July 14 as the investigation continues.