A 24-year-old homeless man has been identified as the person suspected of killing three people at a Kenosha-area bar Sunday morning. Rakayo Alandis Vinson, 24, has been arrested on one count of intentional homicide.
He is being held on a $4 million bond at the Kenosha County Jail, according to the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff David Beth said further charges are expected.
“To hold him in custody, we had to have the initial charge, but I’m sure that he will face, as we piece all of this together, many more charges,” Beth said during a press conference Monday afternoon.
Stay informed on the latest news
Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.
The shooting happened at 12:42 a.m. at the Somers House tavern, officials said, a bar in the village of Somers frequented by college students in the area. Beth said Vinson was asked to leave the bar and came back with a handgun.
Beth said Vinson knew the victims and the shootings were targeted.
Authorities identified the three people killed as Kevin Donaldson, Cedric Gaston, Atkeem Stevenson. Those seriously injured have been identified as Jordan Momani, Justin Haymond and Kevin Serratos. Their ages have not been released.
During Vinson’s bond hearing Monday, Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley said he anticipates filing three first degree intentional homicide charges and three attempted homicide charges.
Graveley said the triple shooting was over “literally nothing,” Vinson’s shoulder bumped one of the victims, leading to a fist fight in the crowded bar, Graveley said.
Two people died at the scene and another victim got in a vehicle that was driven away from the scene, Beth said. That person later died.
Vinson was arrested in Mount Pleasant, in Racine County, after stealing a relative’s car, Beth said.
Graveley said Vinson told police he “blacked out” and the weapon would never be found.
“It’s impossible to overemphasize the grave damage to this community and the absolute tragedy of the loss of life in this circumstance,” Graveley said. “This was literally over a very minor dispute that happens in a very busy bar across this country every night, and we get to a point when gunfire ends three lives and place three others in some peril.”
According to state records, Vinson was charged in 2018 with being a felon in possession of a firearm, but the charge was dismissed. The same year, he had a misdemeanor conviction for carrying a concealed weapon and received a ticket for possession of marijuana.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.
