Middleton mother shot two children before herself in homicide-suicide, police say

[bnew]

Middleton mother shot two children before herself in homicide-suicide, police say

Middleton police reported that after 7:40 p.m. a 34-year-old woman opened fire on her family in the 6300 block of Maywood Avenue.

www.jsonline.com

Middleton mother shot two children before herself in homicide-suicide, police say​

Alex Groth

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel


Two children killed in a Sunday shooting in Middleton were shot by their mother before she turned the gun on herself, ending her own life, police say.

Middleton police reported that at about 7:40 p.m. a 34-year-old woman opened fire on her family in the 6300 block of Maywood Avenue. The woman shot a 31-year-old man, the father of the two children, multiple times as he left the residence. He remains in the hospital, but is no longer in intensive care.

Two children, an 8-year-old girl and 5-year-old boy were struck and killed by gunfire. The woman then turned the gun on herself and ended her life.

The two children were students at Sauk Trail Elementary, Middleton police say.

Middleton police are available to investigate domestic violence incidents by dialing 911 for emergency situations, and at 608-824-7300 for non-emergencies. Local Middleton domestic violence resources can be found on Dane County's website at https://cosc.countyofdane.com.

Where to find help​

Domestic violence:

• The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233.
• The Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee operates a 24-hour confidential hotline at 414-933-2722.
• We Are Here Milwaukee provides information on culturally specific organizations at weareheremke.org.
• The Women’s Center in Waukesha has a 24-hour hotline at 262-542-3828.
• The Asha Project, which provides culturally specific services for African American women and others in Milwaukee, provides a crisis line from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 414-252-0075.
• The UMOS Latina Resource Center in Milwaukee offers bilingual, bicultural domestic violence, sexual assault and anti-human trafficking supportive services and operates a 24-hour hotline at 414-389-6510.
• The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center offers culturally sensitive, trauma-informed services for those who have experienced domestic or sexual violence and can be reached at 414-383-9526.
• Our Peaceful Home, which serves Muslim families and is a program of the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition, operates a crisis line at 414-727-1090.
• The Hmong American Women’s Association, which serves the Hmong and Southeast Asian community, has advocates available at 414-930-9352 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin has a statewide directory of resources at endabusewi.org/get-help.

Conflict mediation and crisis support

• 414Life outreach and conflict mediation support: 414-439-5398.
• Milwaukee County's 24-Hour Mental Health Crisis Line: 414-257-7222.
• Milwaukee's Child Mobile Crisis and Trauma Response Team: 414-257-7621.
• National crisis text line: text HOPELINE to 741741 to text with a trained crisis counselor.
• National Suicide Prevention Hotline: Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org

JS reporter Sophie Carson contributed to this report.

---

 

[Neuromancer]

RIP the kids

 

[bnew]

Wisconsin Paralegal Student, Mother Shoots Family Inside Home, Killing 2, Police Say

Jessica Jessmon was a Middleton, Wisconsin, mother, and paralegal student who is accused of shooting her two children to death, wounding their father, and then taking her own life.

heavy.com

Wisconsin Paralegal Student, Mother Shoots Family Inside Home, Killing 2, Police Say​

GET BREAKING NEWS

• 16.1K Views
• 71 Shares

• By Jessica McBride

• Updated Feb 25, 2024 at 10:50am

LinkedInJessica Jessmon.
Jessica Jessmon was a Middleton, Wisconsin, mother, and paralegal student who is accused of shooting her two children to death, wounding their father, and then taking her own life.

The Wisconsin State Journal identified the mother through a neighbor as Jessica Jessmon.

Court records show she “shared custody of her two children, Makyla Lacey-Robinson, 8, and Major Lacey-Robinson, 5, with Sedale Lacey-Robinson,” the State Journal reported. Police have not formally named the people involved; however, they say the shootings were a murder-suicide and that Jessmon was the shooter.

Here’s what you need to know:

---

Jessica Jessmon ‘Opened Fire at Her Family Members,’ Middleton Police Say​

LinkedInJessica Jessmon.


Shortly after 7:40 p.m. on February 18, 2024, “a 34-year-old female, armed with a handgun, opened fire at her family members inside 6303 Maywood Avenue,” the Middleton Police Department wrote in a news release.

“A 31-year-old male was struck by gunfire multiple times as he exited the residence. Two children, an 8-year-old female and a 5-year-old male, were struck and killed by gunfire. The adult female, and mother of the children, then turned the gun on herself and ended her own life,” the release says.

“The adult male, and father of the deceased children, remains hospitalized but is no longer in intensive care,” it reads. “Domestic violence has no place in our community. The Middleton Police Department remains committed to thoroughly investigating domestic violence incidents and enforcing the law to the fullest extent.”

In an earlier release, Middleton police wrote, “It is with great sadness that we confirm two of the deceased individuals in this incident are children and students of Sauk Trail Elementary School.”

Police also provided additional details in an earlier release. “While officers were in the area, a male exited a separate residence in the 6300 block of Maywood Avenue stating he had been shot and he had multiple gunshot wounds. Officers immediately tended to the victim and began securing the area. The male was transported to a local hospital,” the release says, adding that he was in stable condition.

---

Sedale Lacey-Robinson Was Previously Accused of Giving Heroin to an Undercover Officer​

MugshotSedale Lacey Robinson


According to the State Journal, Jessmon and Lacey-Robinson “had been in an ongoing custody dispute following his release from four years in federal prison for dealing heroin laced with fentanyl.” The State Journal reported that the man hospitalized in the shootings was the “children’s father.”

Lacey-Robinson accused Jessmon of not letting him see the kids, the State Journal reported. The press release from the U.S. Department of Justice says that Lacey-Robinson was accused of selling heroin laced with fentanyl and cocaine to an undercover officer.

The 2019 press release says a handgun was found and added, “Lacey-Robinson was on state probation because he was convicted of distributing heroin in 2014. Lacey-Robinson’s term of state probation was revoked in June 2019, and he was sentenced to 18 months in prison.”

According to the State Journal, at one point, Jessmon agreed to get back together with Lacey-Robinson, but then he married someone else. Jessmon also had felony drug convictions, although they dated back a decade, according to Wisconsin court records. There is a paternity action involving the pair.

---

Jessica Jessmon Wrote on LinkedIn That She Expected to Graduate as a Paralegal in May​

Middleton policeMiddleton police graphic.


Jessmon’s LinkedIn page says she was a paralegal student at Madison Area Technical College.

“Hello, My name is Jessica. I am currently a paralegal student at Madison college, My anticipated graduation date is May 2024. My work experiences include a variety of professional positions such as pharmacy technician, administrative call-center receptionist, and financial analyst,” she wrote on LinkedIn. “I am able to thrive in fast paced environments. I also have 20 years of experience in customer service related positions. I use my skills to communicate effectively with co-workers and clients for problem-solving and maintaining positive relationships.”

She had previously worked in patient billing, as an administrative call-center receptionist, and as a pharmacy technician for Walgreens, according to LinkedIn. Her Facebook page contained an inspirational graphic.

 

[bnew]

Middleton community holds vigil to support grieving family after tragic murder-suicide

The community of Middleton honored the lives of two children, Makyla Lacey-Robinson, 8, and Major Lacey-Robinson, 5, who were killed in a shooting last Sunday. Church and community leaders addressed the crowd of more than 100 people, and the victims' family members expressed gratitude for the...

madison.com

MIDDLETON | THREE DEAD IN MURDER-SUICIDE

Middleton community holds vigil to support grieving family after tragic murder-suicide​

• Anna Hansen
• Feb 25, 2024
• 0
  

The Gun Violence Archive reported that at least 4,994 people have died by guns in the US as of February 15, 2024. According to the report, an average of 108 gun-related deaths occurred each day in 2024, with a further 3,351 people injured. 147 of those who died by gun violence so far in 2024…

Middleton community members join hands Saturday evening with the family of Makyla Lacey-Robinson, 8, and Major Lacey-Robinson, 5, who were fatally shot by their mother, Jessica Jessmon, who then killed herself.

AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL

The people of Middleton needed a hug.

Last Sunday, Maywood Avenue resident Jessica Jessmon fatally shot her two children, Makyla Lacey-Robinson, 8, and Major Lacey-Robinson, 5, and wounded their father, Sedale Lacey-Robinson, before killing herself.

Since then, the air in the city has taken on an extra weight, no one quite sure how to move forward. At a Lakeview Park vigil held Saturday night, District 5 Ald. Jeffrey Jackson shared his own ideas about how to move forward — together.

"I called this prayer vigil, and I told the mayor because Middleton needed to be hugged," Jackson said. "We need to hug the community. They need a hug. Mya and Major need a hug, and right now, by all you standing here, you're hugging them."

Randall Crow, left, a Middleton City Council member, and Ary Jackson, 10, display a sign as community members gather for Saturday evening's vigil.

AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL

Ushering in the next steps alongside Jackson were a number of church and community leaders who addressed the crowd of more than 100 people from a podium flanked by balloons, flowers and stuffed animals, all laid for two children who would never have the chance to play with them. Among the somber faces were about 35 of the victims' family members, some of whom came from out of state to be there.

People are also reading…​

By the time the first mourners pulled up to the park, the sun had already set. The chilly breeze was merciless against tear-dampened cheeks, but people endured the elements, united by a common grief under the pale yellow pavilion lights.

Family members of Makyla Lacey-Robinson, 8, and Major Lacey-Robinson, 5, gather with the Middleton community for a vigil Saturday night.

AMBER ARNOLD , STATE JOURNAL

Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts

"Our babies deserve to live," said Michael Johnson, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County. "Keep your hands on them, keep them protected and, most importantly, pray for them."

When Johnson stood to speak, he did so not just as a community leader but as a spokesperson for the family of the dead, who have requested privacy as they navigate their grief. In a brief statement, Johnson expressed gratitude for the "outpouring of support" on behalf of the family.

Community members and family stand together Saturday at a vigil.

AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL

Parents filing past looked at the smiling faces in those photos and held their own kids tighter. Jackson read a message from the staff at Sauk Trail Elementary, where both children were students. Parents recognized their own children in Mya's love of books and pompoms, Major's bright smile and boundless energy.

"These children were loved. They're still loved," Jackson said.

On his drive to Lakeview Park, Jackson said, his thoughts drifted skyward, where he pictured Mya, running excitedly to her brother to watch community members gather in their honor.

A GoFundMe page created to raise money for the funerals of the three has reached more than $9,000 of its $25,000 goal in the two days since it was posted. Johnson encourages those with the means, whether it's a dollar or $1,000, to donate.

Photos are displayed of Makyla Lacey-Robinson, 8, and Major Lacey-Robinson, 5.

AMBER ARNOLD , STATE JOURNAL

In the coming weeks, discussions will take shape around preventing future tragedies, making more resources accessible to those who need them. But Saturday night wasn't a meeting at City Hall. It was a moment to exhale for a community that held its breath for a week.

"We're going to get past this. We're going to move on," Jackson said. "We're going to do our best to make sure that this doesn't cross the path of Madison or Middleton again."

Middleton Mayor Emily Kuhn, left, attends Saturday's vigil.

AMBER ARNOLD , STATE JOURNAL

"Our babies deserve to live. Keep your hands on them, keep them protected and, most importantly, pray for them."

Michael Johnson, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County

0 Comments