Milwaukee Man Charged After Fatal Shooting at Underground Poker Game

Incident at Milwaukee Poker Game Ends in Tragedy

In Milwaukee’s northwest neighborhood, a private poker game took a deadly turn when a man opened fire, resulting in the deaths of two participants. Authorities have accused 35-year-old Donovan C. Jones of two counts of first-degree reckless homicide related to the shooting that occurred on October 18.

Panic Erupts Following Appearance of Masked Intruder

According to police reports, the poker game took place at a residence near West Ruby and Appleton avenues and continued into the early hours of the morning. As guests were preparing to leave, someone noticed a person wearing a black ski mask approaching the house, carrying what appeared to be a rifle.

Security footage captured a masked individual briefly entering the home before quickly leaving. This unexpected intrusion triggered alarm among those inside. Jones, along with his cousin Shaquille Madison, 33, and a friend, Dwayne Carter, 43, armed themselves and moved to the basement area.

Jones later told investigators that while hiding under the stairs he heard noises and footsteps nearby. Afraid, he fired multiple shots at a dark figure in the shadows, only to realize afterward that he might have struck one of his own friends. He then called 911, expressing fear and remorse over possibly having caused a fatal injury.

Authorities Confirm Jones Fired All Shots

When police arrived, they found Carter dead in the basement and Madison injured outside. Madison was taken to a hospital but succumbed to his wounds shortly after. Investigators recovered nine shell casings at the scene, all found to have come from Jones’s firearm. There was no evidence that any other individuals present fired a weapon.

Eyewitnesses described the chaos: one woman reported that the masked intruder entered making fake gunfire sounds before fleeing. Upon hearing shots, she rushed to the basement and found Carter deceased. Another witness, who served as the dealer, saw Madison collapse outside immediately following the gunfire.

The poker room had been set up to accommodate casual games, equipped with tables, televisions, and posted house rules. Both victims carried significant amounts of cash—Jones had over $5,000, and Madison’s backpack contained more than $8,000—but no theft was reported.

Legal Consequences and Next Steps

Prosecutors have noted that while Jones may not have intended to kill, his actions demonstrated a reckless disregard for human life. If convicted on both homicide charges, he could face up to 60 years imprisonment per count. Jones is currently detained under a $35,000 cash bond and is scheduled to appear in court the following week.