Jury Decides Badger Guns Was Negligent In Strawbuy Sale And Awarded $5M To Victims

A Milwaukee County jury decided that a former local gun dealer was negligent and sold a weapon to a strawbuyer who then sold the gun to a teen involver in shooting two Milwaukee police officers in 2009.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

October 13, 2015

Milwaukee, WI - On Tuesday, a Milwaukee County jury decided that Badger Guns Inc. was negligent in selling a handgun to Jacob Collins who then sold the handgun to a teenager, Julius Burton for $60. The jury awarded both Milwaukee Police Officer Bryan Norberg and former Officer Graham Kunisch $5M.

Both Norberg and Kunisch were shot by Burton on June 2009 after the officers attempted to arrest the teen after riding his bicycle on the sidewalk in the Walker's Point neighborhood. Norberg recovered and returned to work and Kunisch lost an eye and was unable to return to duty. 

In 2010, Norberg and Kunisch filed a lawsuit against Badger Guns and seven other defendants claiming that an employee was negligent in selling a handgun to an alleged strawbuyer who then sold the weapon to a teenager. Collins only got two years in a federal prison for buying the gun and selling it to Burton. Burton is serving up to 80 years in prison for shooting both Norberg and Kunisch.

Badger Guns is expected to appeal the decision.