4 Chicago men charged in shooting that killed Milwaukee man after SUV thefts

MILWAUKEE (CBS) – Four Chicago men were charged Friday in a shooting that killed a man near a Taco Bell in Milwaukee.

Stanley Smith Jr., 41, was shot and killed around 6:20 p.m. on Sunday, May 5, outside the Taco Bell at 5630 W. North Ave. in Milwaukee’s Uptown neighborhood.

The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office said the defendants, Lamont Stanton (19), Correnthis Neal (18), Tramaine Walton (17) and Jovani Velazquez (30), were part of an organized car theft gang in Chicago and came to Milwaukee to steal high-end SUVs.

According to a criminal complaint reported to CBS 58 Milwaukee, Smith was at the Scene 1 Restaurant & Lounge on North Avenue in Milwaukee, a block from the crime scene. An announcement was made at the restaurant warning patrons that cars were being broken into in the parking lot, CBS 58 reported.

According to CBS 58, prosecutors tried to protect Smith from having his vehicle stolen when he struggled with masked men near his black SUV, after which he was shot.

He was shot four times – including twice in the head – and died a few days later, prosecutors told the broadcaster.

Stanton, Neal and Walton were all arrested Tuesday last week after a chase in downtown Milwaukee, CBS 58 reported. Velazquez was arrested a few days later when police traced his phone, the station reported.

All of the defendants face multiple charges. Stanton is charged with first-degree manslaughter, CBS 58 reported. All four are also charged with attempted armed carjacking, the station reported.