Our lantern will be lit in memory of Michael Neal, age 40, Milwaukee, WI from 6/6/18-6/12/18

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. 

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May 26th, 2018, Michael Neal, Age 40, Milwaukee, WI
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A 21-year-old man has been charged in connection to a fatal shooting that happened near 26th and Roosevelt Saturday, May 26.

Investigators say the shooting occurred during an altercation between Charles Richard and his ex-girlfriend's father, 41-year-old Michael Neal.

The victim's wife told investigators, Neal went to Richard's house to speak with him shortly after 10 p.m..
Officials spoke with Richard, who told investigators his sister told him that a car -- driven by Neal -- had done a U-turn and was parked outside their home near 26th and Roosevelt. Richard said he was scared so he "grabbed a black gun from the kitchen and went outside."

The complaint says Richard went outside and yelled, "What do you want?" or "What are you doing here?" To which Neal yelled back, "You said come over so we could talk."

According to a the criminal complaint, Neal was then shot in the head inside his vehicle.

Richard told investigators he was trying to scare Neal away by shooting the gun, but he "wasn't trying to hit the car or anyone inside."

After the shooting, Richard told investigators he gave the gun to his mother. He also wrote an apology letter to the victim's family.

Richard has been charged with first degree reckless homicide, use of a dangerous weapon.

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