A 17-year-old male still at large has been charged with four felony counts in connection with the off-campus shootings of two seniors in the College of Business Administration.
Joseph M. Bonilla was charged Wednesday with first-degree reckless injury while armed and two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety while armed in connection to the early morning Oct. 16 shooting of Shane Gale, 22, outside a house in the 800 block of North 19th Street, according to a press release from the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office.
He was also charged with second-degree recklessly endangering safety while armed for shooting senior Thomas "T.J." Gannon, 21, according to the release.
According to police and witness accounts, the shooting occurred after four males not affiliated with Marquette attempted to gain entrance into a student party. Gale refused to let the individuals into the party because they did not have Marquette IDs.
One of the four people pushed Gale, and Gale pushed the individual off the porch they were standing on. Bonilla reportedly pulled out a gun and opened fire on the porch. The bullet hit Gannon in the shoulder, and Bonilla then shot Gale once in the stomach and once in the face.
One of the four individuals was also shot during the incident. According to police reports, Tony Keovongsack, 17, was the suspect who was shot.
Gale was in critical condition at Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital in Wauwatosa for several days after the shooting, and was upgraded to serious condition as of Monday, according to an administrative representative for the hospital.
Gannon, who is a resident of the house, was treated and released. Gannon returned to class last week, according to his roommate, Tom Dorner, a senior in the College of Communication.
Three other people were charged in connection with the shootings, according to the release. Frankie Rivera, 17, was charged with bail jumping and disorderly conduct, Keovongsack and Mario J. Rodriguez, 19, were both charged with obstructing an officer for reporting false information they provided to police.
A police report and a court record list the same address for Rodriguez and Keovongsack.
Evidence indicates Bonilla acted alone in the actual shootings, according to the release.
If convicted, Bonilla could face up to 80 years in prison and up to $175,000 in fines.
According to Dorner, who was present when the shootings occured, Gale is making a steady recovery after undergoing multiple successful surgeries.
"He's pretty much surpassed the deadlines doctors have given him so far," he said.
Dorner, who is a friend of Gale, said he spoke Monday morning with Gale's father, who told him Gale was moved out of ICU and was allowed to get up and walk around.
Gale's family has requested that people abstain from visiting him in the hospital, Dorner said. People can drop off cards with the Office of University Ministry, who will deliver them to Gale, he said.
