A 41-year-old woman in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide after shooting and killing a 63-year-old man during an argument about delivery food. The incident stemmed from the victim's belief that someone had stolen his chicken order. Authorities say the woman admitted to the shooting but claimed she did not remember pulling the trigger.
The shooting occurred around midnight on February 21 near the 2900 block of North 22nd Street in Milwaukee. According to a criminal complaint, Bonnie Blackwell, 41, was at a home when Charley Collins, 63, returned from interacting with a delivery person. Collins confronted Blackwell, leading to an argument.
Blackwell reported hearing Collins say "somebody stole his chicken." Upon checking, she saw a Dr Pepper on the porch but no chicken. The complaint states that Collins then approached her aggressively in the hallway, calling her names, as she backed away. She claimed the gun went off, and she admitted shooting Collins in the back as he walked away, though she did not recall pulling the trigger.
Milwaukee Police Department officers arrived and attempted to save Collins, but he died at the scene. Investigators found a fired bullet near the victim's feet and a bullet casing in the hallway.
Blackwell faces charges of first-degree intentional homicide and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. She was booked into Milwaukee County Jail on Thursday and is scheduled for an initial court appearance on Saturday.
During the investigation, detectives learned of phone calls Blackwell made from jail. In one call on the day of the shooting, she allegedly said, "I just shot somebody last night, and I think I killed him — I am going to be on the run."
The case highlights tensions that can escalate from everyday disputes, as detailed in the police complaint obtained by local media.
