Teenager Sentenced in Milwaukee Homicide of Club Promoter

This story is part of a series of Milwaukee homicide sentencings being covered this spring by UWM journalism students. You can read another student story on this sentencing here.

Melvin Jones, who was charged at age 16 in connection with the homicide of a popular club promoter, was sentenced Friday to 25 years in prison.

After a plea agreement, Jones was convicted as an adult of felony murder in the death of Christopher Gray, who was beaten to death in a burglary.

Lisa Fanroy, the victim’s mother, was the first to give a statement; she revealed that her son survived three bullet wounds from a drive-by shooting in 1989, saying, ““He fought for his life then and 25 years later Chris fought again for his life, but that would be his last fight. And for what? Material things.”

Fanroy struggled through tears, saying, “He beat my son to death with a hammer; what kind of person does that?”

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Dugan gave Jones the 25-year sentence with an additional 10 years of extended supervision.

On Nov. 18, 2013, Jones, then 16, was originally charged with burglary and the 1st degree reckless homicide of Gray, but the charges have since been changed to felony murder after Jones admitted to brutally beating Gray in the head with a hammer, which resulted in his death.

According to Gray’s Twitter and Facebook accounts, in addition to being a club promoter, Gray also hosted an event called“ Swagged Out Sundays” at Brooklyn’s Restaurant, a popular bar/lounge in Milwaukee.

As the prosecuting attorney, Grant Huebner, walked the court through Melvin Jones’ actions the night Gray was killed and presented video of Jones’ confession to police, muffled sniffling and sobs were heard through the gallery.

It was an emotional afternoon for Gray’s family and friends as four of them shared statements with the court.

The defense attorney, Jeffrey Jensen, focused the blame on Jonathan Sellers, who was also involved in the robbery, and who was sentenced to 17.5 years earlier this year. The defense claimed that Jones, a 16-year-old at the time, was under the influence of the 22-year-old Sellers.

The prosecuting attorney Huebner pointed out that in Jones’ Pre-Sentencing Report, when Jones was asked about what he had planned for his future, Jones stated he wanted to be a porn star. Jones and his defense attorney claim that this comment was intended to be a joke.

Both the prosecution and Judge Dugan saw this statement as a show of the defendant’s character and lack of remorse for his crimes.

Jerome Smith, a close friend of Gray, considered him a brother. He was wearing a memorial shirt with Gray’s nickname “Caly Kris” on the back when he gave his statement.

Smith expressed his feelings about Jones’ pending sentencing, saying, “It’s not fair that he took someone’s life, and he gets a chance to come back and have one.”

Michael Bickhl, better known by his nickname Mike Wayne, had known Gray since fourth grade.

He addressed Jones’ actions the night of Gray’s death, saying, “You should have been doing something constructive instead of stealing from a man who worked hard for his things.”

Before giving his sentence, Dugan restated the reasons for his decision, in which he echoed the family’s concern for Jones’ lack of empathy and remorse and the horrific nature of the crime.

In Jones’ final statement to the court, he said, “I take responsibility for my part in the crime; just like your loss I’m gonna be taken away from my family.”

Jones is to pay $3,348.32 to the crime victim reparation fund.