A 44-year-old Milwaukee man is facing felony charges after police say he opened fire on a car waiting at a red light near 35th Street and Highland, hitting the driver twice before taking off. Investigators say surveillance video and automated cameras later helped them lock in on a suspect vehicle, and the case is now working its way through Milwaukee County court. Authorities say the driver who was shot went for medical treatment, and no other arrests have been announced, as reported by the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access.
According to the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access and a criminal complaint, the man charged in the case is 44-year-old Kiante Walker. He is accused of first-degree reckless injury, endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon. Court records show Walker made his first appearance in Milwaukee County court on Saturday, where a commissioner set cash bond at $75,000. He is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing next Tuesday.
Police: Nine shots recorded, two bullets hit driver
Milwaukee police say a ShotSpotter sensor picked up nine gunshots just before 3:30 a.m. The victim later told officers she noticed a vehicle following her, then pulling up alongside her car as she waited at the red light. Someone in that car allegedly fired into her vehicle, shattering glass and hitting her twice. As reported by FOX6 Milwaukee, detectives then started tracking the suspect car through video footage and automated camera systems.
Investigators say Honda Civic stood out on camera
Per Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, investigators reviewing cameras along the victim’s route say they spotted a 2026 Honda Civic that caught their attention, citing distinctive mirrors, rims, air-curtains, grille and taillights. Court records say police then used Flock automated license plate readers to follow that Civic as it moved through the city. Officers ultimately found the vehicle near 26th and Lisbon, carried out a traffic stop and identified Walker as the driver, according to the criminal complaint.
Forensics test car interior as suspect denies role
Police say a forensic search of the Civic on Wednesday under blue light turned up fluorescence marks in the front passenger area that investigators say are consistent with possible gunshot residue. During interviews with detectives, Walker denied knowing anything about the shooting and, according to the complaint, gave differing explanations about where he had driven that night. FOX6 Milwaukee reports that those details come directly from the criminal complaint and court filings.
High-tech trail, old-school concerns
The tools highlighted in this case, from ShotSpotter gunshot-detection sensors to Flock license plate readers, are part of a growing surveillance web that Milwaukee police rely on to follow vehicles and piece together timelines. The city’s use of Flock ALPRs and ShotSpotter has been tracked by Atlas of Surveillance and examined in reporting by the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. Those outlets have also documented ongoing debate about privacy, oversight and how far this kind of monitoring should go in everyday policing.
Legal notes…