‘Abrupt, Violent and Entirely Preventable’: Milwaukee Man Sentenced to 32 Years in the Shooting Death of Makai Neal

When the promising life of a young citizen is cut short by violent crime, it creates the sort of grief that strikes at the soul of a city. For residents of Milwaukee, the horrific killing of 15-year-old Makai Neal was an unfortunately all-too-familiar reminder of how tightly this grief can constrict its grip.

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— WISN 12 NEWS (@WISN12News) February 18, 2025

Between the callous nature of the killing, the ages of those involved, as well as the illegally modified weapons used, this homicide sits at an intersection of issues that leaves many city residents scratching their heads for a solution.

Though the people responsible have been arrested and charged, the frustration that arises from hunting down the root causes of cases like this remains to be satisfied.

In light of a tragedy that ripped the heart strings of many city residents to threads, the state’s prosecution presented a picture of one victim’s bright future, extinguished by senseless violence, and the tireless investigative work — with the help of an anonymous tipster — that helped put the killer behind bars as it attempts to bring the victim’s family one step closer to justice.

Just three days shy of Thanksgiving, Charles Edward Roby, the 21-year-old Milwaukee man convicted of first-degree reckless homicide in the shooting of Neal, party to a crime in mutilating a corpse for assisting to burn Neal’s body in an attempt to dispose of the evidence, as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm, was sentenced to 32 years in prison and 17 years of extended supervision.

Neal, a student-athlete at James Madison High School, was one of 132 homicides in the city of Milwaukee in the year 2024, according to the Milwaukee Police Department crime database.

As of this writing, in the year 2025, there have been 138 homicides in Milwaukee.

For now, the justice system has made sure at least one of those responsible will spend decades incarcerated, paying back a debt to this city too hefty to ever truly measure.

Finding more questions than answers

As two officers ushered into the courtroom — their stark black uniforms bisected by Roby in an orange county jumpsuit — the already hushed corridor fell to near silence.

For a short, breathless moment, it seemed the only sound that could be heard was the somber shuffling of the restraints securing Roby’s limbs, announcing the physical boundary now placed between this convicted killer and the rest of the free world.

In a city where homicides continue to rise after a two-year decline, even while other violent crime continues to fall, the senseless character of these crimes, as well as the young age of many of the offenders and victims were called into question by the court during the hearing.

“There are some elected officials who would stand up and tell us crime is down,” said Judge David Borowski, presiding over Roby’s sentencing. “Well, they should come and sit in my courtroom for a week.”

Borowski continued.

“I don’t know what’s worse: that I have five or six cases where teenagers are killed, or that I have five or six cases where teenagers are the defendants.”

The brutal machinations of the weapons often used in these crimes were also highlighted during the hearing by Assistant District Attorney Grant Huebner, the prosecutor for this homicide.

“This case brings us to, unfortunately, something that is ripping this city apart,” said the prosecutor. “We are seeing fully automatic machine guns in a way we have never seen before.”

Roby shot Neal with a firearm that had been illegally modified with a “switch,” a device affixed to the backplate of a handgun that allows it to bypass the engineered semi-automatic controls and converts the handgun into a fully automatic firearm.

Though these “switches,” mechanically known as auto sears, are technically legal to own for manufacturers who have received licensing from the federal government, many of these conversion devices have found their way into the hands of individuals who then illegally modify a firearm and use it to commit further crime.

“When I started in the gun unit, we saw them once every couple years,” said the prosecutor, “now it seems like we’re seeing these switch-type fully automatic machine guns on the regular.”

This observation aligns with data given by the ATF, which showed a rise in the recovery of auto sears nationally, from 658 in the year 2019 to more than 5,800 in 2023.

Milwaukee Police Department reported over 120 automatic handguns recovered in the year 2023, far surpassing the 13 recovered in the year 2020.

“I wish I knew what the answer is for Milwaukee, but I know what we’ve been doing for the last 10 or 15 years is not working,” said Borowski. “Maybe it’s time that things change in this community. But all I can deal with today is Mr. Roby’s situation.”

Sentencing Roby

When recommending sentencing, prosecutors often utilize a framework of three critical factors: the gravity of the offense, the safety of the public and the need to rehabilitate the perpetrator.

Huebner noted that Roby was the first of the suspects willing to cooperate, pleading guilty in October 2025 and avoiding a drawn-out trial. Huebner said this is not always common.

Prosecutors say this fact, in addition to Roby’s acceptance of his firearms charges, should serve as a mitigating factor.

However, there were many aggravating factors which the state also presented to the court.

They first noted the many different levers of rehabilitation and incarceration that apparently did nothing to correct Roby’s behavior and prevent him from eventually committing a homicide.

Prosecutors also mentioned, when Roby committed the homicide, he was out on bail and in possession of a firearm he had no right to possess, given his bonded release status on a prior firearms charge.

The state noted that not only did Roby admit the firearm used in the homicide was illegally modified with a switch, he also had another illegally modified handgun in his possession when he was arrested.

“It all starts with the defendant with a gun in his hand that he’s not supposed to have,” said Huebner.

The state recommended 33-35 years of initial confinement for the homicide charge alone; as the state put it, “[Roby’s] entire age, plus the victim’s entire age.”

Letters from the victim’s family asked the court to give Roby the maximum sentence allowable.

The defense, attorney Robert Webb Jr., stated Roby cooperated with officers upon arrest and took responsibility for this case. The defense implored the court to see that, as well as other circumstances of the shooting, as mitigating factors in his sentencing.

The defendant’s counsel alleged Roby and Neal, as well as other individuals, were involved in stealing cars. Defense claimed the criminal complaint corroborated this statement. Defense inferred Neal’s placement within the stolen Accord his burned corpse was discovered as evidence of his knowledge and involvement with these sorts of activities.

It’s important to note Neal has no prior record that would serve to establish any criminality, nor has there yet been testimony from the other defendants to corroborate any prior criminality. So –based only on information already established by this investigation — this theory appears to be the interpretation of the defense attorney.

During this statement, defense also claimed a “disagreement occurred about the stolen vehicle,” though the criminal complaint alleges the two were disputing over a gun allegedly stolen by Neal, not the stolen vehicle.

“Mr. Roby’s perspective: the two were arguing about it and a gun was produced,” said Webb. “The victim had a firearm, [Roby] had a firearm. Neither of them should have firearms; one because [he] is a child, the other one is a prohibited person.”

Defense still did not attempt to exonerate their client or indict Neal.

“What we know, is that after the victim was shot, there is no self-defense claim for the remaining shots that come from [Roby],” said defense. “He recognized, accepted that and he didn’t cry about it.”

Webb continued, “That, in my estimation, is a sign of a person taking true accountability and showing a degree of remorse.”

The defense read a letter from Roby’s mother, in which she pleaded for mercy from the courts. She claimed, though Roby takes responsibility for his actions, this was a “demonic spirit that took over and caused him to take a life.”

The defense also read two letters written by Roby, in lieu of making a statement in court. In those letters, Roby apologized for his actions to the victim’s family, Roby’s own family as well as the community.

“It is easy to apologize and say ‘sorry’ when you don’t mean it; it is different when you actually mean it and take the time to understand what you are apologizing for,” Roby’s letter read.

“There is no honor in killing anyone, especially a little boy that had a future ahead of him,” the letters stated. “I robbed him of his life and his family and his dreams.”

Roby continued to self-reflect.

“Being a parent, I can see how another parent would feel to lose a child,” said Roby. “I can only wonder what you all are going through and I apologize for what I have done. No parent should have to live without their child.”

“I am no god,” Roby continued. “I am not above anyone. I have no right to take anyone’s life.”

In his letters, Roby promised to “go above and beyond.” His letters promised to learn from his actions, stay out of trouble, and take any programs the court could offer to “further his education to a college level.”

Roby’s letters stated, though he wishes he could do things over, he will live with the consequences and learn from his choices.

Roby in his letters claimed Neal was his friend; he stated he hopes the victim’s family can smile “knowing justice has been done for [Neal].”

“I would be completely heartbroken if the shoe was on the other foot,” Roby’s letter stated. “I would want justice. So I am coming in front of you admitting I was wrong and I agree I need to be punished.”

For his part, Roby recommended 40 years of incarceration: 25 years of initial confinement and 15 years of extended supervision.

When considering sentencing, Judge Borowski stated he considered all factors in his decision: the gravity of the offense, deterrence and the need to protect the public.

Borowski took the time to highlight a statement made in a letter written by a member of the victim’s family.

“The manner in which Makai’s life was taken has left us not only in deep grief, but also in shock and disbelief,” read Borowski. “His passing was not a natural or expected loss. It was abrupt, violent and entirely preventable.”

Borowski repeated those last five words as though to punctuate the gravity of this loss.

Borowski described Roby’s behavior as “exceedingly aggravated.” He described the crime scene photos he had recently viewed as “one of the most heinous, sickening things” he’d ever seen.

“It made me recoil,” said Borowski.

When examining Roby’s actions and considering his sentence through the framework of those three critical factors, Borowski acknowledged the level of accountability exhibited by Roby and Roby’s potential for redemption, but he also stressed the severity of Roby’s actions and emphasized that he does not believe Roby is fit to be walking free any time soon.

“Mr. Roby does deserve credit for pleading guilty,” said Borowski. “Very few defendants take responsibility as quick as Roby has. It’s an indication that — despite what may be in front of me — Mr. Roby may not be beyond redemption.”

That still did not deter Borowski from measuring out what he felt to be an appropriate punishment based on the facts at hand.

Borowski stated the gravity of the offense had already been established; that left the remaining two factors.

“The need to protect the public,” continued Borowski, “obviously, at least today, Mr. Roby presents a significant danger to the public.”

When considering Roby’s rehabilitation, Borowski cautioned against leniency.

“He is a significant risk to re-offend,” said Borowski. “His record, unfortunately, speaks for itself. His likelihood — if not almost certainty — he would re-offend demands a prison sentence and demands a lengthy prison sentence.”

Borowski continued.

“No amount of remorse can ever make up for your behavior.”

Though Borowski gave credit to the defense for recommending a reasonable sentence, he still saw little, if any, reason to exercise any lenience.

“There needs to be a message sent to this community, and to Mr. Roby, that if you engage in this kind of behavior, you are going to do decades — plural — decades in prison,” said Borowski. “Not years, decades.”

Members of the victim’s family could be heard whispering, in quiet but firm agreement with the judge’s words.

For his role in Neal’s homicide, Borowski sentenced Roby to 30 years of initial confinement and 15 years of extended supervision.

For his role in the burning of Neal’s body, Roby was given two years of initial confinement and two years of extended supervision, to run consecutively to the first count, this means the sentence for the second count will begin after the sentence for the first count ends.

For his felony possession of a firearm, Roby was sentenced to five years of initial confinement and five years of extended supervision, though Borowski ordered these counts to run concurrently to the first two counts. This means the sentences will run simultaneously, so this doesn’t add any actual length to the sentence of the defendant, though it is part of the overall ruling.

Borowski also credited Roby for the 276 days he had already spent in confinement.

Over a gun? The death of Makai Neal

According to the criminal complaint, Roby shot and killed Neal on the night of Feb. 10, 2025. They appeared to be friends but it is unclear how the student-athlete and the “career criminal” became associated with one another. The anonymous tip in the complaint alleges the shooting occurred as a result of Roby attempting to “backdoor” Neal.

In court, prosecutors stated they believe a “backdoor” to be when an individual steals a firearm from another individual, sometimes a friend.

Prosecutors allege the term may also relate to the further killing of the original owner with their stolen gun but could not say this with certainty as it is a newer term that prosecutors stated is more popular amongst juveniles and teenagers.

“It’s now a thing in this community that we steal a gun from somebody and shoot ’em?” interjected Borowski. “That’s what it’s come to in Milwaukee county?”

Though uncertain of the term’s exact definition, Huebner stated this was a phenomenon he had encountered in at least three previous cases, all involving juveniles or teenagers.

According to the complaint, prior to the shooting, the individuals were “hanging out” in the stolen Honda Accord. Cellphone data records place them near 3817 W. Sarnow St.

Near that Sarnow Street house, in 25-year-old DJ Chandler’s account of that night, he was sitting in the passenger seat of that Honda Accord and Neal was seated directly behind him.

Roby alleges Neal stole a firearm from a friend of his and says on that February night he took that firearm back from Neal.

After Roby “stole” the gun from Neal, according to Chandler in the complaint, Roby began calling his friend to tell him he got the “stolen” firearm back, and Neal — now in the driver’s seat of the stolen Accord — called his cousin, an unnamed individual, and alerted him that “they” had “backdoored” him and asked his cousin to come meet them at Neal’s current location.

It’s at this point that Chandler, another defendant in the burning of Neal and, according to the complaint, present at the scene of the homicide, alleged Neal hung up the phone and Chandler claims he said he believed Neal was sending their current location to Neal’s cousin. Chandler alleges this is when Roby shot Neal the first time.

According to Chandler’s words in the complaint, Roby then walked up to the vehicle, “leaned into” the passenger side and this is when Chandler states he heard a “loud zip” from what he believed to be the sound of gunfire. Chandler alleges this came from Roby’s handgun which had been modified illegally with a switch to turn fully automatic.

Chandler alleges after being shot, Neal climbed from the driver’s seat into the passenger’s seat and demanded to be taken to the hospital. Chandler further alleges this is when Roby got into the driver’s seat and Chandler walked away because he believed Roby would take Neal to the hospital and Chandler “didn’t know what to do.”

According to the complaint, Roby then drove off with Neal still in the vehicle.

Chandler alleges another individual — only mentioned by the name “Mooney” in the complaint — was also in the vehicle, present for the shooting and “ran into” the Sarnow Street house once the shooting took place.

Further investigation revealed 24-year-old Keyshawn Barnett as the “Mooney” who appears in the complaint. Court records show on March 03, 2025, a complaint was officially filed against Barnett for party to a crime of harboring/aiding a felon for his alleged role in connection to the burning of Neal.

Shortly after Roby drove off in the stolen Accord with a wounded Neal, Chandler further recounts in the complaint he was picked up in a Buick by “family” of Roby’s, individuals later identified as defendants Shatianna Williams and her mother Shatise Williams.

It may be important to note that while Chandler describes the two women as family of Roby’s, Shatise states in the complaint that Roby is a “family friend” of her daughter.

The complaint alleges the group drove around in the Buick looking for Roby when Roby called Chandler and told him he had to “finish [the victim] off.”

As Chandler alleges, Roby believed Neal would “tell on him” if taken to the hospital.

Chandler alleges this is when Roby stated they would have to burn the car because it had all their prints in it.

Here, Chandler and the elder Williams’ story match in the complaint, as they both state they went to a gas station near 27th and Lisbon when Barnett — still noted only as “Mooney” in the complaint — got out and filled up a gas can.

At this point, the defendants’ account of the night slightly contradict security video described in the complaint as showing the daughter Williams as the individual who got out, went into the gas station to pay and then filled up the gas can.

At any rate — the complaint continues — after filling up the gas can, the group drove over to 24th and Cherry Street, where they parked next to the stolen Honda that had arrived just shortly prior and an individual matching the description of Chandler exited the Buick, walked over to the Accord and dropped the gas can through the back passenger window.

The complaint alleges the vehicles then drove in tandem to 26th and Locust Street, where the stolen vehicle was parked in the lot behind an abandoned house and Roby attempted to burn it.

According to the elder Williams’ statement, Roby came back after a short time because the car would not burn and he asked Chandler and “Mooney” for assistance.

At this point, according to the complaint, while Chandler did not exit the vehicle, both Roby and “Mooney” doused the stolen Accord with gasoline and set it ablaze. According to the elder Williams’ statement, she drove Roby around for a short time to check back and make sure the car set on fire.

“Cool,” said Roby, according to the complaint, “it’s on fire.”

After this, the complaint continues, Williams dropped everyone off and headed home: Roby on 44th and North Avenue, and Chandler at his 32nd Street address.

Tracking down the killer: the investigation of Neal’s death

On Feb. 10, 2025, at 9:05 p.m., according to the complaint, the Milwaukee Fire Department was dispatched to the scene of a vehicle burning in the grass. After extinguishing the fire, they discovered Neal’s corpse, burned so beyond recognition it would require dental records to identify him.

“That’s how badly the victim’s body was destroyed,” said Huebner, “his memory destroyed.”

In court, the prosecutor stated an autopsy revealed Neal had a total of eight separate “track wounds” and three bullets were recovered from his body.

According to the complaint, upon investigation, MFD determined the cause of the fire to be intentional. The complainant further alleged they believe this was done to destroy evidence related to the crime.

According to investigators, a total of six bullet casings were recovered from the burned vehicle.

The complaint states an anonymous tip helped lead to the identification of Neal as the victim.

According to the complaint, Milwaukee Police Department Detective Kent Gordon received a call from an anonymous tipster who stated his brother was friends with the victim. The complaint states the caller was sharing this information because it was the “right thing to do,” and Neal “did not deserve to die the way he did.”

The anonymous tipster, the complaint states, claimed his brother was friends with Neal’s cousin. In the complaint, the tipster claims his brother received a call from Neal’s cousin in which Neal claimed he had been “backdoored” and asked for help. According to the complaint, the victim’s cousin claimed the call ended abruptly.

Using this information, the complaint continues, investigators were able to obtain Neal’s phone number and used it to track Neal’s cellphone location to Zaza’s Steak and Lemonade, located in the same shopping strip on Capital Dr. as a cellphone store; at this store, investigators noted in the complaint they observed video of Neal buying a second cellphone.

The complaint notes that investigators obtained surveillance video from the Zaza’s showing Neal and another individual exiting the stolen Accord.

Investigators further state in the complaint they requested the use of New Berlin Police Department’s facial recognition technology, which identified Chandler with “97.8% similarity,” after which investigators compared the surveillance footage to a current mugshot of Chandler and believed him to be the driver.

Using these cellphone records, the complaint states investigators placed Neal’s cellphone in the area of Chandler’s home on the 1500 block of N. 32nd St. before it turned off at around 7:57 p.m. According to the complaint, investigators say they still observed records from Neal’s second phone in the area of Chandler’s home and then in the area of N. 22nd St., near where Neal was found inside the burned vehicle.

Tying the murder to Roby

According to the complaint, investigators executed a search warrant of DJ Chandler’s home, with statements from Chandler eventually identifying Roby as the shooter.

The complaint continues, investigators searched the area around 3817 W. Sarnow St., the home of the Williams’, with phone records placing Roby both there and near the location of the vehicle burning. The Williams’, as well as Roby, were eventually arrested at the Sarnow home, according to investigators, where additional shell casings were also found in the area and matched to the shell casings found in the burned vehicle, confirming this as the location of the shooting.

According to Roby’s statement, he claims he and the victim were “just hanging out” prior to the shooting. Though Roby admits to shooting Neal, he denies setting the car on fire.

Though they were able to confirm the location of the shooting, as well as the gunman, prosecutors say the firearm used in the murder has still not been found.

A few chances too many

According to prosecutor testimony, Roby pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless homicide as well as party to a crime of mutilation of a corpse and as a felon in possession of a firearm. Roby also had a separate case related to a burglary; this case was “dismissed but read in,” which means the charges for that case would be dropped but the defendant would allow this case to be factored into future sentencing for a separate charge the defendant had already accepted.

During the sentencing, Borowski showed little lenience as he admonished Roby.

“Mr. Roby, your behavior — even for a judge who has been in the homicide court multiple times in the last 10 years — is remarkable for its sheer brutality,” said Borowski. “Monstrous behavior, with an awful prior record”

Borowski pointed to Roby’s criminal record, spanning the last 10 years to his first contacts with law enforcement dating back to 2015.

“You’re a career criminal,” said Borowski, “you’re a menace to society, a menace to Milwaukee, a menace to this community. Every effort has been made over the last 10 years.”

Borowski echoed the prosecution’s recounting of Roby’s record, established as a juvenile. The litany of offenses made up “every felony someone could imagine,” ranging from operating a vehicle without owner consent, robbery, fleeing police, and recklessly endangering safety. Prosecutors noted that Roby has four convictions related to firearms, continuing that in three of those cases, Roby has discharged a firearm. Prosecutors framed this as especially reckless and indicative of Roby’s criminal character.

Prosecutors recounted when Roby first entered the juvenile system as an adjudicated delinquent in the year 2015, charged for criminal damage to property and party to the crime of theft. He received a year of supervision under juvenile authority on Feb. 17, 2016.

Roby had turned 12 years old less than a month prior.

For clarity, an adjudicated delinquent is a juvenile who has violated a criminal law and would otherwise be considered “guilty” of a crime as an adult.

Prosecutors recounted on this same date, Roby was adjudicated in two other cases that occurred in 2016 involving operating a motor vehicle without owner’s consent. The third case got Roby sent to Longview Home, a behavioral health facility.

The prosecutor noted this is the typical path for delinquent juveniles: escalating levels of supervision that leads to relocation to a behavioral health home.

Prosecutors continued that in 2017, the defendant was adjudicated in further cases involving robbery, fleeing and hit and run; Roby received a further year of supervision. This string continues into 2018, where Roby was involved in another fleeing.

According to Roby’s criminal record, the first case involving firearms occurred on Aug. 18, 2020 for first-degree recklessly endangering safety when Roby was involved in a shooting. For this offense, prosecutors stated, he received the Serious Juvenile Offenders program and sentenced to 5 years at Lincoln Hills juvenile prison. Prosecutors stated he was transferred out of Lincoln Hills and placed on community supervision by June 30, 2021, after just under a year.

Roby still stacked up infractions while at Lincoln Hills, according to the state, and, by June 30, 2021, he was placed on GPS monitor.

The prosecutor described the events of Oct. 21, 2021, when South Milwaukee police received a call from a victim only named as ASW who alleged she woke up and saw Roby pointing a gun, which he then fired. Prosecutors read the victim describe the bullet landing just “three or four feet” away. Responding to the victim’s reporting, prosecutors continue, the police located and apprehended Roby at a hotel in a stolen vehicle and found two firearms inside the vehicle.

For this, prosecutors say, Roby was convicted of possession of a firearm by an adjudicated delinquent and received a dismissed, read in charge for operating vehicle without the owner’s consent. For this, according to state records, Roby was sentenced to one year and six months of initial confinement and the same of extended supervision.

“Someone might ask why he got probation, given that record,” interjected Borowski. “That record you’ve just recited is as bad as any defendant I’ve seen in the last 10 years for someone his age.”

According to state records, on Sept. 30, 2022, Roby was sentenced to an initial 30 days in the house of correction and was eventually placed on probation again.

Prosecutors recounted a criminal complaint that stated — during a time in which the defendant was on monitoring for both a separate juvenile and adult firearms case — the department of correction received multiple GPS violations and on April 25, 2023 received a text message from Roby stating “I’m going out of town, I can’t do this anymore” before removing his GPS monitor and receiving a warrant for his arrest as a result, leading to Roby’s eventual arrest.

Here, prosecutors referred back to 2019 and another case in which Roby removed a GPS bracelet while on juvenile supervision.

In reference to Roby’s ability to cut off his GPS monitoring bracelet with relative ease, Borowski interjected and took time to admonish the resources provided by the state to monitor criminals under supervision.

“I’m not being funny when I say I don’t understand how the DOC has not figured out something that can’t be cut off,” said Borowski. “Someone should ask the DOC — in light of recent events — how that’s possible.”

For this, Roby received a sentence of one year of incarceration and 18 months of probation. This charge was “imposed and stayed,” that means the court entered the conviction but did not impose the full sentencing. Prosecutors noted for this, Roby had so much pre-trial credit he was released Jan. 9, 2024, the same day he was returned as a probation violator.

From bail jumping to homicide

According to Wisconsin court records, when the shooting occurred in February 2025, Roby was out on cash bail from a previous arrest related to possession of heroin with intent to distribute, as well as possession of a firearm by a felon. The records note he posted the $1500 bond for that case in July 2024, and after a failure to appear in court in December of the same year, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.

Prosecutors stated that also during this period, Roby committed a burglary which was eventually dismissed and read in.

It was also during this timeframe Neal’s shooting took place and, according to state records, Roby was eventually arrested in connection with Neal’s homicide in February 2025.

A tale of two families

Neal had no prior juvenile record revealed to the court and was apparently a fish-out-of-water when associating with Roby, according to an interaction Roby recounted during the pre-sentencing investigation.

“You have a loving family, why are you out here doing what I’m doing?” Roby allegedly asked the victim at some point during what Roby calls their friendship.

It’s still unclear what activities the victim engaged in with Roby prior to this incident or why the two were associates.

Throughout the hearing, both sides attempted to paint a picture of their respective son as upstanding and well-meaning, with a whole life ahead of them.

Prosecution began their statements by invoking the victim’s right to discuss the sentence with the court. There were letters written by the victim’s family read out to the court, as well as a statement by a Neal’s mentor, Montreal Cane

Cane addressed the court first. He described Neal soliciting his mentorship services; not only to get Neal on the right track but also to help further Neal’s career in football.

“He had received letters that showed he was an amazing athlete, and Makai was denied that opportunity,” said Cane.

“I remember him writing out his goals, the things he wanted to accomplish, the things he wanted to achieve,” continued Cane, “and he was denied that opportunity.”

Cane turned his attention to the duties of the court.

“When I think about what is best for the young man, and the other individuals, as well as the family,” said Cane, “I’m confident that this courtroom will do justice and will allow the family to receive the peace and reassurance that they never will get because Makai is gone. But at least we can use the law to do what it is designed to do.”

Next, Neal’s sister, Soraida Carthran, read three letters: one from Neal’s biological mother, one from her mother, who would be Neal’s stepmother and one from their father.

Carthran began by reading the letter written by Neal’s mother, Briana Neal.

“My son was only 15 years old when his life was stolen from him; brutally murdered and then set on fire,” the letter read. “Those words should never have to come out of a mother’s mouth, and yet this is my reality. This is what I live with every single day.”

The letter went on to describe the joy he brought into her life, only to be violently ripped away.

“From the moment Makai was born on Oct. 27 of 2009, he changed my world,” wrote Neal’s mother. “And now he’s gone, in the most cruel, unimaginable way.”

Neal’s mother continued to recount the grief she now lives with every day.

“Every morning when I open my eyes, there is one split second where I forget, one small moment where my heart doesn’t hurt, and then it hits me all over again,” wrote Neal’s mother.

Neal’s mother grieved the void left in her life by the murder of her son.

“My son is not here; my baby will never walk through my doors again,” the letter continued, “I will never hear his voice; I will never feel his hugs. The quiet in my house is suffocating and it’s silence that screams.”

Neal also had other interests, such as art. Neal’s mother wanted him to be remembered for those other things he loved as well.

“Football wasn’t just a sport, it was his passion, his dream,” wrote the mother Neal. “But he was more than an athlete, he was an artist. He could take a blank page and make it something beautiful. That was who he was: someone who created beauty wherever he could.”

Neal’s mother implored the court to seek justice for her son.

“I am asking for justice, real justice,” implored Neal’s mother. “I am asking for a sentence that reflects the brutality of the crime and what was taken from us.”

Next, Carthran read a letter written by Neal’s father, Ralph Starling.

“Makai wasn’t just my son, he was my whole world, my best friend,” wrote Starling, “and now he’s gone. And everyday I wake up wondering how am I supposed to keep living without him.”

Through tears, Carthran pushed her way through the reading.

“I still pick up the phone and text him before I remember he is never going to answer me again,” the letter read. “I still look at football fields and have to turn away because it feels like someone is squeezing the life out of my chest.”

Based on the brutality of the murder, Neal’s father also asked the courts for the longest possible sentence for Roby and the other defendants.

Finally, Carthran read the letter written by Neal’s stepmother, Irma Ortiz. Ortiz also recounted the depth of her grief and loss in the absence of Neal.

“Losing him in such a violent and horrific way has shattered me in ways that words can barely express,” wrote Ortiz.

Ortiz recounted the gruesome condition Neal was left in as a result of the murder.

“I will never forget the image of my son laying on the table of the funeral home, with just bones left,” wrote Ortiz, “and the smell of his decaying body is something that will never leave my mind.”

“I can’t even see my child for the last time because they decided to burn his body and try to get rid of him,” the letter continued,” there is no healing from something like that.”

Ortiz also asked the courts to give Neal’s killer and accomplices the longest possible sentence, though she had a request unique from the first two letters.

“Because of the cruelty and severity of this crime, I am asking the court to impose the maximum sentence allowed,” wrote Ortiz, “I firmly believe the people responsible for Makai’s death should spend the rest of their life in prison.”

The letter continued.

“I am also asking that Charles Roby’s cases should be tried separately,” implored Ortiz, “that he try his first case and then Makai’s after. I believe those two cases shouldn’t be put together.”

When the defense began their turn to make a statement, they began by reading a letter written by Roby’s mother. She began the letter by describing her devout Christian faith, and signs of Jesus’ “return to this world soon.”

She described the upbringing of Roby, the youngest of three.

“Charles grew up with both parents in the home and we taught him right from wrong,” wrote Roby’s mother. “Charles would not get into trouble or need to be disciplined.”

Roby’s mother described their times together as a family, going to basketball games, helping him with his homework and attending church on Sundays.

Roby’s mother centered his divergence down this wayward path around a significant shock to the stability of his home life as a young child.

“When Charles’ dad and I separated and he moved out,” explained Roby’s mother, “Charles then started having behavioral problems in school.”

Roby’s mother still pleaded the merit of her son’s character, in spite of the states charges.

“To take a life is not like my son,” pleaded the defendant’s mother, “he loves to be around people and have a good time.”

Roby’s mother described her son’s tearful reaction when she asked him why he would do something like this.

It is at this point Roby’s mother claimed she believes a demonic spirit “took over” her son and caused him to take a life.

Explaining her own traumas and the other family members she had lost to crime or gun violence, Roby’s mother pleaded with the court to have some mercy on her son — and herself, by extension — even though she was willing to acknowledge his wrongdoing.

During pre-sentencing, investigators also spoke with Roby’s father. He claimed that while his son had gotten into trouble as a juvenile, he never imagined it would escalate to something like this.

“This whole thing is heart-wrenching, never in my wildest dreams would I think we would be here,” said Roby’s father. “I knew he was out here doing stupid stuff — stealing cars and whatnot — but I never saw this scenario.”

Borowski proceeded to hold few punches in his reaction to this statement.

“I don’t know why not, it seems like a natural next step of your behavior,” said Borowski to Roby, who throughout the hearing sat still, leaning over only a few times to address his counsel.

In addition to the character of Roby’s prior sentencing and the quality of supervision provided by the state, Borowski also drew questions around Roby’s upbringing.

“I wonder where his parents were,” said Borowski. “I’m not aware of where your parents were–“

Borowski was interrupted by a single male voice from the defendant’s gallery.

“We’re right here,” said Roby’s father.

Borowski quickly turned his attention to the gallery.

“I’m aware of that,” responded Borowski, “you didn’t do a very good job raising your son.”

Borowski immediately ejected Roby’s father for his continued address of the court and then turned his attention back to the defendant, asking the defendant if the gentleman ejected was his father.

“Yes, sir,” answered Roby, some of the only words heard from him in the courtroom during the hearing.

“Your father did a terrible job raising you,” said Borowski, after a short silence hung in the air. “He’s partially responsible for you being here.”

Media Milwaukee reached out to Vernil Roby, Charles Roby’s father, but he declined to comment.

Borowski continued to administer his wisdom on what he felt contributed to crimes such as Roby’s, centering the number of crimes Roby committed while still a juvenile and, presumably, still in the care of his parents.

“I’m sick of not blaming parents in this community,” said Borowski. “When someone is this young, with this kind of record, yes, it is on the parents. But it is also on you, Mr. Roby, because you’re the one who’s going to do the prison sentence.”

A close-knit community pulled apart by violence

In the midst of chasing down killers and bringing justice to a victim’s family, it may be easy to overlook the lasting impact this sort of shocking crime can have on a community.

The 2900 block of 26th Street where Neal’s corpse was discovered is home to working-class families and the retired. It’s not the sort of block that may come to mind when you hear the details of this case.

Media Milwaukee had a chance to speak with the neighbor who discovered the burning car and called the police.

“I watched the fire department find that little boy’s body,” said Cierra Gonzalez, a 26-year-old beauty services entrepreneur and resident of the 26th Street block for three years. “Traumatizing, to say the least.”

She said the once warm and neighborly block has grown “desolate” since the traumatic discovery of Neal’s body. Her words bring to light how crimes of this magnitude can have harms that branch out far beyond the epicenter.

“Nobody has really been outside since then,” recalls Gonzalez. “Over the summer there really weren’t kids outside. There really weren’t families spending time around here. They were really going elsewhere to avoid the — how would I say it — the “haunt.”

Gonzalez gave her perspective on how this tragedy has impacted the spirit that once embodied this neighborhood.

“Otherwise, this is a very quiet neighborhood; this is a very community-oriented neighborhood,” said Gonzalez. “We have block parties for Halloween and Thanksgiving. There’s a lot of things the community does to try to get people together and make it a safe space for us to live.”

Gonzalez highlighted the almost invasive nature in which their neighborhood was chosen as the grounds for this inhumane crime.

“[The defendants] didn’t live around here at all,” said Gonzalez. “They came from somewhere else, dumped the car and then set it on fire. They parked the car so close to the abandoned house that the house caught fire.”

“Why do it here?” wondered Gonzalez out loud.

Gonzalez still bears the weight of her crystal clear memory of that chilling February night.

“I had a client at the time and we did not hear anything up until the car pretty much exploded,” recounted Gonzalez.

“It sounded like someone was laying on the horn in the alley,” Gonzalez continued, “I got up to look out my kitchen window and all I could see was flames. I thought my house was on fire, that’s how big the fire was.”

Gonzalez immediately rushed towards the fire to call for help, having no idea of the sinister reality she was helping to uncover.

While this sinister reality was attempting to conceal itself, by acting quickly to call emergency services, Gonzalez played a crucial role in making sure it was instead brought to light.

“When I opened the back door, all I could smell was burning gasoline and burning flesh,” said Gonzalez. “It smelled so bad. The smoke was coming into my house. By the time the police arrived the car was already fully engulfed in flames, and the back of the [26th Street] house was partially on fire and part of my backyard was on fire.”

This good deed did not come without a price, it appears. The details of that night have been seared into Gonzalez’ senses, leaving her with a memory that’s not only difficult to shake, it sometimes still feels real.

“It was a very traumatizing experience. I still have dreams about that: walking up to my kitchen window and feeling the heat from the car.”

Still, Gonzalez remains in the neighborhood she has called home for three years now.

“People can ask why I haven’t moved yet, I don’t know,” said Gonzalez. “That was a push for me to move but I’ve been here since.”

The continuing cases

There are four other defendants with cases related to the killing and burning of Makai Neal. DJ Chandler has pleaded not guilty to party to a crime of harboring and aiding a felon as well as possession of a firearm by a felon, both with habitual criminality modifiers, which could add weight to his sentencing if convicted. His next hearing is set for Dec. 18 with a jury trial set for Jan. 26.

22-year-old Shatianna Williams and her mother 40-year-old Shatise Williams are both facing charges for party to a crime of harboring and aiding a felon and having plea hearings set for Jan. 16

24-year-old Keyshawn Barnett, a.k.a. “Mooney,” has also been charged with harboring and aiding a felon. He has a plea hearing set for Dec. 5.

In addition to decades of incarceration, Roby was ordered to pay restitution and has a hearing set for Jan. 6.