Teens accused of trying to rob Tosa resident with BB gun

A Wauwatosa resident was working in his front yard at about noon June 6 when he was approached by two males who displayed a gun and demanded his money and car keys, according to a criminal complaint.

The suspects — one a 13-year-old boy, and the other, 18-year-old Christopher D. Gill of Milwaukee — allegedly left their school, St. Charles Youth & Family Services, 151 S. 84th St., Milwaukee, before trying to rob the man using a BB gun, and ultimately being caught by police.

Gill has been charged with a felony count of armed robbery with threat of force and a felony count of burglary. The 13-year-old is being referred to children's court.

About the incident

According to a criminal complaint, the Tosa man was working outside in the 8500 block of West Hawthorne Avenue at about 12:17 p.m. when the two approached him. One lifted the bottom of his jacket and displayed a gun in his waistband and said "Give me all your money! Empty everything out of your pockets! Give me the keys to your car!"

The man told the suspects he didn't have anything in his pockets and that the vehicle wasn't his, according to the complaint. The two suspects then "looked around nervously," the complaint said.

Seconds later, a St. Charles van arrived in the area, and the two suspects took off running eastbound on West Hawthorne Avenue, according to the complaint.

On his way to the area, a Wauwatosa police officer saw a male matching the suspect description in the 8400 block of West Hawthorne Avenue. He stopped the squad car and approached the suspect, who said, "The one with the gun went that way!" and pointed north, according to the complaint. The suspect was handcuffed and searched, but no weapons were found.

As the officer was talking with the Wauwatosa resident, the St. Charles van returned. The officer spoke with the school's principal, who identified the suspect in the car as a 13-year-old student at the school, who left around 12:10 that day without permission.

The principal also said that when the boy's grandmother dropped him off at school, she told the principal she thought she saw a gun in her grandson's waistband. She asked for the gun, but he refused and jumped out of the car and ran behind the school, which is why the grandmother notified the principal, according to the complaint.

The principal said the boy left the school that day with Gill, who was allowed to sign himself out, as he is an adult, according to the complaint.

At about 12:30 p.m., another officer said she might have spotted Gill on a bicycle near North 68th and West State streets. Gill was apprehended and said he took the bicycle from a house down the block because he got tired while walking home, according to his statement outlined in the complaint.

The BB gun was found in the 100 block of North 85th Street in some brush.

If convicted, Gill could face up to $50,000 in fines and up to 20 years in prison on the armed robbery charge and a fine up to $25,000 and up to 12 years and 6 months in prison on the burglary charge

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Gill at 8:30 a.m. June 24.