Who is William Carson? Milwaukee man gets 16 years in prison for shooting at children who threw snowballs at car
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN: A Milwaukee man who had been found guilty of shooting at children who threw snowballs at his car received a 16-year prison term on Friday, February 3, 2023. In November 2022 a Milwaukee County Jury found William Carson guilty of all seven charges.
The charges included two counts of first-degree reckless injury and five counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety in connection with the incident that happened in 2020. Besides receiving a 10-year prison term, Carson was sentenced to 10 more years of extended supervision.
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Who is William Carson?
According to a criminal complaint, a group of children was playing in the snow near 61st and Birch on Milwaukee's north side on January 4, 2020, because of which Carson was charged by Judge Michael Hanrahan although attorneys had requested a 25-year prison sentence, FOX 6 reported.
Carson had pleaded for leniency by asking the judge, "I'm asking you for leniency in my sentencing. I am asking for mercy in my sentencing," said Carson. "I miss my family. I miss my kids." However, the Judge pounded on him by stating, "There is this other side of you that is impulsive, reckless, violent – I think self-centered," said Judge Hanrahan, the outlet noted.
The criminal complaint further states, "the driver of one of the cars that were hit turned his car around, got out of his car, and fired shots at the kids as they attempted to run away. The driver then got back in his car and drove away" that driver was later identified as Carson.
William Carson 'fled the scene'
Carson was arrested by Oak Creek police days later after he fled from officers and was found to be driving under the influence. Police recovered a gun from his car, and testing revealed that it was "highly probable" that it was the same gun used in the January 4 shooting that as per the US Department of justice, he had purchased 11 days before.
Of the seven children involved three were struck with bullets. "One of the children was shot in the thigh, and another was hit in the arm. A third child had a bullet graze their jacket but was not injured," the complaint mentioned.
"You really hurt us, and I really want you to pay for what you did to my family," said Monique Wilbourn, mother of one of the children during sentencing.