Earl Williams III learned his fate Friday in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, receiving 12 years in prison followed by eight years of extended supervision for his role in a chaotic shootout that left 19-year-old Bre'nee Veasley dead, according to court records reviewed by CrimeBytes.
Background
The aspiring nurse was killed the night of June 20, 2025, outside a teen party at a strip mall on the 8200 block of West Brown Deer Road in Milwaukee. What began as a gathering of young people quickly descended into violence when Williams allegedly appeared wearing a ski mask and brandishing a firearm.
A witness told investigators she saw Williams with the masked face and asked him to put the gun away because it was frightening her, according to a probable cause arrest affidavit. Within moments, gunfire erupted across the parking lot, sending partygoers scrambling for cover under vehicles. When the chaos subsided, Veasley had been struck by stray bullets.
Police arrived at approximately 11 p.m. and immediately began piecing together what had occurred. Detectives determined that shots were "clustered" in three separate areas of the strip mall parking lot, a pattern authorities said indicated multiple shooters engaging in what they described as a "wild west-style shootout."
The Investigation
According to law enforcement officials, Williams did not fire the bullet that killed Veasley. However, investigators allege his actions initiated the exchange of gunfire that resulted in her death—a distinction that became central to the felony murder charge.
An examination of the scene revealed the staggering scope of violence: 110 bullets were discharged from 11 different firearms within a mere 20-second window. Authorities recovered evidence including a firearm equipped with a "switch," a device that converts a semi-automatic weapon into fully automatic capability, police said.
Williams claimed he opened fire because he believed rival gang members with weapons were present in the parking lot, according to investigators. After the shooting, two co-conspirators allegedly drove him from the scene and later spray-painted a Chevrolet Malibu, though their connection to that act remains under investigation.
The Charges
Williams pleaded guilty in May to felony murder, accepting responsibility for causing Veasley's death through his actions even without being the direct shooter. He received credit for nearly 11 months of time served while awaiting trial.
His two co-defendants, Isiah Daniels and Jardan Anderson, face separate charges of harboring or aiding a felon and are scheduled to appear in court on different dates next week.
Key Takeaways
- Bre'nee Veasley was a college student pursuing nursing with a 4.0 GPA, described by family as having "her whole life ahead of her"
- Williams received 12 years incarceration plus 8 years extended supervision for felony murder
- Police recovered 11 firearms and 110 shell casings from the scene—fired in just 20 seconds across three distinct areas
- Authorities determined Williams initiated the shootout but did not fire the fatal shot that killed Veasley
What's Next
While Williams' case reaches its sentencing phase, prosecutors continue preparing for the separate proceedings against Daniels and Anderson on harboring charges. The broader investigation into the other shooters involved in the exchange remains active, though no additional arrests have been announced at this time.
Family members established a GoFundMe to support Veasley's loved ones during this difficult period.