Prosecutor Claims Teen Fatally Shot At Milwaukee Burger King Was In On Staged Robbery
The fatal shooting of fast food employee Niesha Harris-Brazell, 16, during a robbery earlier this month at a drive-thru window of a Milwaukee Burger King evoked sympathy. A GoFundMe campaign raised more than $40,000 to help cover her funeral expenses.
Now, prosecutors allege that Harris-Brazell was killed while taking part in a staged robbery that was botched.
FOX6 reported on Jan. 14 that the prosecutor filed a complaint charging Antoine Edwards, 41, with felony murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, and Intentionally contributing to the delinquency of a child leading to their death. The complaint also alleges that Edwards’ 16-year-old daughter and Harris-Brazell were involved in the fake robbery.
According to the criminal complaint, police officers on Jan. 2 responded to the shooting at the Burger King restaurant and found that Harris-Brazell suffered fatal gunshots near the drive-thru window.
Surveillance video showed a masked man, alleged to be Edwards, stepping out of a vehicle with a gun at the drive-thru where Harris-Brazell was at the cash register. Another Burger King employee, identified as Derrick Ellis, pulled out a gun and fired toward Edwards. Harris-Brazell was caught in the line of fire.
Investigators don’t believe that Ellis was involved in the staged robbery. But he fled the scene and was later charged in connection with the shooting, FOX6 reported.
The police arrested Edwards and his daughter, who was working in the kitchen at Burger King during the shooting.
According to FOX6, Edwards’ daughter allegedly confessed that the robbery was staged. She said Harris-Brazell, who was normally assigned to work at the window, agreed to hand the cash to her father. Edwards gave the police a similar confession with the exception of stating that his daughter was not involved in the scheme.
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Meanwhile, police are still searching for Ellis. Immediately after the shooting, Ellis was seen on surveillance video picking up spent shell casings. He went to the restaurant’s manager with the handgun and shell casing, which she locked in the office safe. She later told the police that Ellis asked her to hide them because he was a felon.
Edwards was held on more than $1000,000 bond and faces up to 65 years in prison if convicted, according to CBS58.
