Richard Cordero, 56, Charged With 1st-degree Reckless Injury After Shooting Neighbor For Aiming Live Fireworks At Him During Confrontation In A Southside Milwaukee Alley

Cordero was released on bail after he was taken into custody and charged for shooting his neighbor, after his neighbor allegedly aimed lighted fireworks at him in an alley.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

July 10, 2023

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On July 4, 2023, Milwaukee responded around 12:09 a.m. to the 2600 block of S. 12 Street and located a 45-year-old man with a non-fatal gunshot wound to his upper back in his garage. The male victim was conveyed to a local hospital for treatment for a non-fatal injury.

Police arrested Richard Cordero, 56, in connection with the shooting. Cordero confessed to police that he and his neighbor had a confrontation over lighting up fireworks in the alley. His neighbor then allegedly aimed a lighted fireworks at him and Cordero told police that he then shot the neighbor in self-defense. The neighbor was shot in the upper back and Cordero was taken into custody and charged on July 6 with a felony.

Police were able to recover video surveillance footage from a nearby home showing the neighbor shooting fireworks into the alley. It also showed Cordero pointing a handgun at the neighbor and shooring him.

Police were able to recover two .380 Cal. spent brass cartridges at the shooting scene in the alley. They also recovered a .380 Beretta semi-automatic handgun from Cordero's kitchen cabinet, according to police.

Cordero was charged with one felony count for 1st-degree reckless injury and use of a dangerous weapon.

If convicted, Cordero is facing up to 25 years in prison and up to $100,000 in fines and is facing an additional 5 years in prison for use of a dangerous weapon.

Cordero will be summoned by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office to appear at a Milwaukee County court hearing on August 24, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. in room 221 at the Safety Building.

It's illegal to have and light fireworks in the City of Milwaukee and the fine ranges from $500 to $1,000.

Milwaukee police were not responding to illegal fireworks complaints on the 4th of July, until July 6, according to a police source.

Police and the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office have not released any information, if the 45-year-old neighbor that was shot by Cordero was actually cited for using illegal fireworks within the City limits.