Police and prosecutors say David Krause was shot after accepting a ride during a rainstorm.
MILWAUKEE — Three teenagers have been charged after police said a 35-year-old man was shot and killed in an alley after accepting a ride during a rainstorm on April 14.
The case involves the death of David Krause, a Milwaukee resident who family members said had been celebrating 414 Day before severe weather moved through the city. Prosecutors say Krause got into a car with teens near Walker’s Point, rode only a few blocks and was shot during an attempted robbery near South 1st Street and West Greenfield Avenue. The suspects are juveniles, so most identifying information has not been released.
The shooting happened around 7:45 p.m. near 1st and Greenfield, in an area close to Walker’s Point and the Harbor District. Family members said Krause had taken shelter from the storm and realized he had left his house keys in his girlfriend’s car. According to a juvenile petition described in local reports, Krause called his girlfriend from a gas station near 1st and Mineral streets and told her he was “getting a ride from some kids.” Prosecutors said the car traveled about three blocks before surveillance video captured Krause getting out of the back seat and running toward a nearby bar. Two teens chased him, a struggle followed and one teen shot him, authorities said.
Police and prosecutors have described the car as stolen. Investigators said the teens fled after the shooting and the vehicle was later found burned near 60th Street and Hope Avenue. Court records cited in local reports show two of the teens had histories involving car theft, including one with 12 car theft-related offenses. Prosecutors said at least one teen was armed with a gun. Authorities have not released the full surveillance video, and they have not publicly said whether Krause knew any of the teens before he got into the car. Officials also have not identified all suspected roles in the case because the defendants are juveniles and parts of the proceedings are restricted.
The first public reports of the shooting described Krause as a 35-year-old man pronounced dead at the scene. His family later identified him as a Lake Geneva native who had lived in Milwaukee for about 10 years. Relatives said he was a drummer, a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee graduate and a person who loved the city. His sister Brooke Krause said the family had not had time to process the grief. His mother, Diane Krause, called the killing senseless, saying David had been seeking shelter and a ride home when he was gunned down. His sister Ashley Krause said his trust in people was part of who he was.
The court process has unfolded in juvenile court. A 14-year-old boy, identified only by initials in reports, was charged with murder during an armed robbery and attempted armed robbery. A court commissioner ordered him held in custody after prosecutors argued he posed a danger. Assistant District Attorney Claire Roehre said in court that the petition showed “a complete disregard for human life.” Commissioner Katryna Childs Rhodes called the allegations “incredibly violent, dangerous, scary.” The teen’s attorney argued that other people were accused of being more directly tied to the shooting and said the boy was not found with a gun.
Other arrests and charges followed. Local reports said police arrested a 15-year-old boy, a 16-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl in connection with the case. TMJ4 reported that a third teen had been charged with felony murder and armed robbery. FOX6 reported that two teen boys faced felony murder and attempted robbery charges and that one also faced an arson charge tied to the burning of the vehicle. TMJ4 reported that the 16-year-old girl had been linked to the crime but had not been charged at that time. Police previously said they were seeking another suspect who had been identified but not located.
The case also drew attention after the 14-year-old suspect was mistakenly released from custody. The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office said it was notified April 26 that the juvenile had been released from the Vel R. Phillips Youth and Family Justice Center in Wauwatosa. Authorities said he was found and taken back into custody the next morning without incident. The Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the facility, told CBS 58 the circumstances of the release were being investigated. Krause’s family criticized the release and said someone needed to explain how it happened.
In court, Krause’s family asked that the teen remain detained. Kevin Krause, David’s father, told the court, “We are begging, begging the court to keep this assailant in custody.” A family statement after the mistaken release said it was a relief that the juvenile was back in custody but said that did not erase the failure that allowed the release. FOX6 reported that another prosecutor, Annie Louk, said one defendant was alleged to be the gunman and also accused of setting the car on fire to destroy evidence. Childs Rhodes ordered that teen to remain in detention as the case continued.
The shooting came on 414 Day, a local celebration tied to Milwaukee’s 414 area code. Family members said Krause had been out in Walker’s Point before storms swept through the city. The mix of a holiday night, bad weather and a short ride from a gas station has shaped much of the public account of the case. Still, key details remain unresolved in public filings and reports, including who fired the fatal shot, whether every suspect has been charged, what evidence connects each teen to the alleged robbery and whether the cases will stay in juvenile court.
As of May 4, the juvenile cases remained pending and no conviction had been reported. The next steps were expected to include more juvenile court hearings, continued review of surveillance video and stolen-car evidence, and any additional charging decisions by prosecutors.
Author note: Last updated May 4, 2026.