Milwaukee woman killed while her child was in online school
Students participating in an online class heard the gunshots inside a Milwaukee home last week that killed a local pastor, investigators say.
Michelle Blackmon, 52, was shot and killed the morning of Sept. 11 by her brother, Mario Stokes, 45, inside her home in the 6800 block of West Silver Spring Drive, according to prosecutors.
Stokes is charged with first-degree reckless homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon as well as possessing a firearm as a felon.
A child in the home was participating in an online class when the shooting occurred, and the fellow students and teacher heard multiple gunshots, according to a report from the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The teacher called 911 using the address the student had on file, the report said.
A judge in a 2013 disorderly conduct case ruled Stokes “guilty but not guilty due to mental disease/defect,” according to online court records. His conditional release from custody was revoked in 2018 when the court ruled he violated terms of the release and ordered him committed to a psychiatric institution.
In May 2019, discharge papers were filed, and Stokes was released from the Mendota Mental Health Institute.
In the homicide case, Stokes’ attorney told the court Tuesday Stokes might not be “competent to proceed.” Court Commissioner Dewey Martin ordered an evaluation and set Stokes’ initial appearance for a later date.