Lantern Project: Since October 2013, Hope House has joined with other domestic violence programs around the state by implementing the Lantern Project. For our part in this statewide project, we added to the lamppost in front of Hope House a purple wreath. We will turn on the light for a week every time there is a death related to domestic violence in Wisconsin. We will post information online about the person(s) that was killed. If you drive by our building and see our lamppost on, please reflect on the deadly impact that domestic violence has on our communities. We know the list of stories we post here is incomplete. We strive to learn about and share these stories but know that there are some that we and the media miss. If you see a news story of a death in WI related to domestic violence and don't see it posted here, please feel free to let us know about it here. Thank you.
April 19th, 2020: George Hadjinian, Age 60 – Milwaukee
Obituary
Homicide charges have been filed against a 31-year-old man police say opened fire on the home of his children’s mother on Milwaukee’s north side and killed a bystander in yet another instance of domestic violence turning deadly in the city.
Arthur M. Kennedy of Milwaukee is facing a first-degree reckless homicide charge in connection with the April 19 shooting death of George Hadjinian, 60. Kennedy is in the Milwaukee County Jail with cash bail set at $100,000.
The charges come as the city reels from a mass shooting in which four teens and one adult were killed in a home along the 2800 block of North 12th Street on Monday. The suspect in that shooting, who has not yet been charged, has a history of domestic violence.
According to the criminal complaint: Police were called to the 4900 block of North 49th Street shortly after 5 p.m. on April 19 after four witnesses said they saw or heard Kennedy fire several times into a home. Emergency responders located Hadjinian in the driver’s seat of a car near the home with a single gunshot wound.
Witnesses told police that Kennedy had been kicked out of the home several weeks earlier by the mother of his children. During a family barbecue earlier on April 19, Kennedy showed up and argued with the woman and other family members until police arrived and told him to leave.
A witness told police that Kennedy has a long history of abusing the mother of his children. He’s had extensive run-ins with police dating back to 2006 and pleaded guilty to battery and witness intimidation in 2016, according to online court records.
Kennedy showed up at the house again late that afternoon and tossed two cinder blocks through the living room window of the home. The occupants, which included several children, ran to the basement as Kennedy fired as many as six shots from the front of the home, witnesses said. Police later found three casings on the street.
At the time of the shooting, one witness said he saw a vehicle, which was driven by Hadjinian, pull into a driveway nearby. Another witness said she saw Kennedy yelling at the driver to leave and shooting in the direction of the car twice.
Obituary
Homicide charges have been filed against a 31-year-old man police say opened fire on the home of his children’s mother on Milwaukee’s north side and killed a bystander in yet another instance of domestic violence turning deadly in the city.
Arthur M. Kennedy of Milwaukee is facing a first-degree reckless homicide charge in connection with the April 19 shooting death of George Hadjinian, 60. Kennedy is in the Milwaukee County Jail with cash bail set at $100,000.
The charges come as the city reels from a mass shooting in which four teens and one adult were killed in a home along the 2800 block of North 12th Street on Monday. The suspect in that shooting, who has not yet been charged, has a history of domestic violence.
According to the criminal complaint: Police were called to the 4900 block of North 49th Street shortly after 5 p.m. on April 19 after four witnesses said they saw or heard Kennedy fire several times into a home. Emergency responders located Hadjinian in the driver’s seat of a car near the home with a single gunshot wound.
Witnesses told police that Kennedy had been kicked out of the home several weeks earlier by the mother of his children. During a family barbecue earlier on April 19, Kennedy showed up and argued with the woman and other family members until police arrived and told him to leave.
A witness told police that Kennedy has a long history of abusing the mother of his children. He’s had extensive run-ins with police dating back to 2006 and pleaded guilty to battery and witness intimidation in 2016, according to online court records.
Kennedy showed up at the house again late that afternoon and tossed two cinder blocks through the living room window of the home. The occupants, which included several children, ran to the basement as Kennedy fired as many as six shots from the front of the home, witnesses said. Police later found three casings on the street.
At the time of the shooting, one witness said he saw a vehicle, which was driven by Hadjinian, pull into a driveway nearby. Another witness said she saw Kennedy yelling at the driver to leave and shooting in the direction of the car twice.
April 24th, 2020: Craig Tarr, Age 60 – River Falls
Obituary
RIVER FALLS, WI. Craig Tarr and his son Amory Haydn, have been identified as the victims found shot dead inside a River Falls, Wisconsin, home on Friday.
Tarr, 60, of River Falls, and his 32-year-old son, of Hudson, were found shot dead in what appears to be a murder-suicide. No official determination on the deaths was provided by officials.
The father and son were found dead of gunshot injuries Friday morning at a residence located at, W11309 840th Ave in River Falls. According to police, Amory called 911 to tell police his father had been shot. Upon arrival, officials found both men dead of gunshot injuries.
The incident is still under investigation. Law enforcement officials said there is no outstanding threat to the public. Craig Tarr was the president of Minnesota and Wisconsin based solar company Energy Concepts. The deadly incident remains under investigation.
Obituary
RIVER FALLS, WI. Craig Tarr and his son Amory Haydn, have been identified as the victims found shot dead inside a River Falls, Wisconsin, home on Friday.
Tarr, 60, of River Falls, and his 32-year-old son, of Hudson, were found shot dead in what appears to be a murder-suicide. No official determination on the deaths was provided by officials.
The father and son were found dead of gunshot injuries Friday morning at a residence located at, W11309 840th Ave in River Falls. According to police, Amory called 911 to tell police his father had been shot. Upon arrival, officials found both men dead of gunshot injuries.
The incident is still under investigation. Law enforcement officials said there is no outstanding threat to the public. Craig Tarr was the president of Minnesota and Wisconsin based solar company Energy Concepts. The deadly incident remains under investigation.
April 27th, 2020: Demetrius Thomas, Age 14, Tera Agee, Age 16, Lakeitha Stokes, Age 17, Marcus Stokes, Age 19, Teresa Thomas, Age 41 – Milwaukee
Teresa Thomas, Demetrius Thomas, Tera Agee (left)
Relatives of those victims are now speaking out. They say they want answers — and for the public to realize there are two families mourning this incredible loss.
A relative of the eldest victim in this tragedy identified as Teresa Thomas said Thomas and the suspect had an on-again-off-again relationship. Family members say the victims are from Thomas’ side of the family as well as his side.
“My sister was Teresa Thomas. My nephew was Demetrius Thomas. My niece was Tera — and I am distraught. I need to know what is going on. I am confused. I’m trying to figure out how you kill five people,” said Teresa’s brother, Johnny Hall.
Hall said his life has forever changed. “Sometimes I think I’m dreaming,” Hall said. Hall said he had to identify his sister to authorities. Teresa Thomas was one of the five persons who died in the home near 12th and Locust. Scene of shooting that left 5 dead in home near 12th and Hadley, Milwaukee “My sister took care of everybody. Teresa Thomas took care of everybody,” Hall said. Family members shared pictures with FOX6 News. They say the suspect arrested by police is 43-year-old Christopher Stokes. “Chris was part of our family,” said Toni Cage, a relative of the victims.
Relatives on Tuesday said Stokes had once broken Thomas’ arm, relatives say. Family members feel Thomas may have wanted to leave Stokes. “He killed his son — his own son,” said Linda Hines, a relative of the victims.
They saw Stokes as recently as last week. “It didn’t seem like he was having no problems,” Hines said. Family members learned the shooting inside the house started in the early hours of the morning. Thomas’ grandchild was spared in the shooting. But they say he was found covered in blood.
“There’s two families involved in this,” Cage said. “These families have known each other for years. We have to grieve together. We have to come together.” Relatives say despite what has happened, there are two families in shock and dealing with the unimaginable. “These families have known each other for years. We have to grieve together. We have to come together,” Cage said.
Hall has started a Go Fund Me page to raise money to give his sister, his niece, and his nephew a proper burial. CLICK HERE to learn more. Milwaukee police say this an ongoing and active investigation.
Teresa Thomas, Demetrius Thomas, Tera Agee (left)
Relatives of those victims are now speaking out. They say they want answers — and for the public to realize there are two families mourning this incredible loss.
A relative of the eldest victim in this tragedy identified as Teresa Thomas said Thomas and the suspect had an on-again-off-again relationship. Family members say the victims are from Thomas’ side of the family as well as his side.
“My sister was Teresa Thomas. My nephew was Demetrius Thomas. My niece was Tera — and I am distraught. I need to know what is going on. I am confused. I’m trying to figure out how you kill five people,” said Teresa’s brother, Johnny Hall.
Hall said his life has forever changed. “Sometimes I think I’m dreaming,” Hall said. Hall said he had to identify his sister to authorities. Teresa Thomas was one of the five persons who died in the home near 12th and Locust. Scene of shooting that left 5 dead in home near 12th and Hadley, Milwaukee “My sister took care of everybody. Teresa Thomas took care of everybody,” Hall said. Family members shared pictures with FOX6 News. They say the suspect arrested by police is 43-year-old Christopher Stokes. “Chris was part of our family,” said Toni Cage, a relative of the victims.
Relatives on Tuesday said Stokes had once broken Thomas’ arm, relatives say. Family members feel Thomas may have wanted to leave Stokes. “He killed his son — his own son,” said Linda Hines, a relative of the victims.
They saw Stokes as recently as last week. “It didn’t seem like he was having no problems,” Hines said. Family members learned the shooting inside the house started in the early hours of the morning. Thomas’ grandchild was spared in the shooting. But they say he was found covered in blood.
“There’s two families involved in this,” Cage said. “These families have known each other for years. We have to grieve together. We have to come together.” Relatives say despite what has happened, there are two families in shock and dealing with the unimaginable. “These families have known each other for years. We have to grieve together. We have to come together,” Cage said.
Hall has started a Go Fund Me page to raise money to give his sister, his niece, and his nephew a proper burial. CLICK HERE to learn more. Milwaukee police say this an ongoing and active investigation.
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