A 14-year-old boy will remain in juvenile custody as police search for one more suspect.
MILWAUKEE, WI — Three teenagers are in custody after 35-year-old David Krause was shot and killed April 14 near South 1st Street and West Greenfield Avenue, and a 14-year-old boy will remain detained after a juvenile court hearing Thursday.
The case moved forward this week as Milwaukee police announced two more arrests and prosecutors described the shooting as part of an armed robbery. The 14-year-old appeared in juvenile court April 23, where court officials weighed whether he should be released or held while the case continues. Police said a 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl also have been arrested. One more suspect remained at large.
Krause was killed around 7:45 p.m. April 14 near the border of Walker’s Point, Harbor View and the Harbor District, an area just south of downtown Milwaukee. Police said he was pronounced dead at the scene. His family said he had been out celebrating 414 Day, the annual April 14 celebration tied to Milwaukee’s area code, when storms moved through the city. Family members said he was trying to get home and had sought shelter from the weather before he was shot. Diane Krause, his mother, said her son had asked people for a ride before he was killed. “Absolutely senseless,” she said.
Milwaukee police first reported that a 14-year-old boy had been arrested after investigators took a separate person of interest into custody the day after the shooting. Police later said the person of interest was not considered a suspect at that time. On Thursday, police said they had arrested two additional teenagers, bringing the number of juveniles in custody to three. Authorities have not released the names of the juveniles because of their ages. Investigators said they still were looking for a fourth suspect, who had been identified but had not been located. Officials have not said whether the recovered evidence includes a gun, surveillance video or other physical evidence.
At Thursday’s hearing, Court Commissioner Katryna Childs Rhodes told the 14-year-old he was charged with a felony murder count tied to armed robbery. He also faces an attempted armed robbery charge as party to a crime. Assistant District Attorney Claire Roehre said the petition showed the boy had “a complete disregard for human life.” Roehre said the teen was in a stolen vehicle with other juveniles, two of whom were well known in the juvenile system, and at least one person in the group had a firearm. She said one juvenile shot Krause while two others tried to rob him.
The defense argued that the 14-year-old should be released home while the case proceeds. Elizabeth Angove, the teen’s attorney, said other co-actors named someone else as the shooter and said the boy was not found with a gun. The court commissioner rejected the request and ordered him to remain in juvenile custody. The hearing focused only on the detention decision for the 14-year-old. Police have not announced the same court status for the 15-year-old boy or the 16-year-old girl, and officials have not said whether prosecutors will seek additional juvenile petitions or other legal action connected to the newer arrests.
Krause’s relatives spoke in court and urged the commissioner to keep the 14-year-old detained. Kevin Krause, his father, told the court that the family was begging for the teen to remain in custody. He said the person in custody was dangerous to the community and may know the identities of others involved, including the person the family believes fired the fatal shot. In earlier interviews, relatives described David Krause as a Lake Geneva native who had lived in Milwaukee for about 10 years. They said he graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and loved wakeboarding, snowboarding, rock climbing and drumming.
Family members said Krause trusted people and loved the Milwaukee community. Ashley Krause, his sister, said that trust was part of who he was. “He had so much faith in humanity, so much faith in the people and community in Milwaukee that he surrounded himself with,” she said. Brooke Krause, another sister, said the family had not had time to process the grief. The killing left relatives searching for answers as police worked to build the case around a group of young suspects and an alleged robbery that unfolded during a busy local celebration night.
The investigation remains active. Three teenagers are in custody, the 14-year-old will remain detained, and Milwaukee police are still seeking a fourth suspect. The next public step will depend on further juvenile court proceedings and whether prosecutors file or announce additional charges.
Author note: Last updated April 24, 2026.