State, local authorities say witness homicide thwarted

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MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee County prosecutors say investigators from multiple agencies have prevented the killing of a man who witnessed a homicide.

According to a criminal complaint, four people from Milwaukee have been charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree intentional homicide and other felonies. Authorities say the four conspired to kill a man who witnessed a homicide allegedly committed by one of the four defendants.

The complaint says detectives interviewing a man about unlawfully possessing a gun learned he had witnessed a fatal shooting in July. Antonio Smith is charged with that fatal shooting. Prosecutors say Smith arranged with the others to have the witness killed.

Lorenzo Beaton, Shantrell Lyons and Shaheem Smith are also charged. Smith’s attorney, Daniel Sanders, says his client is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Lyon’s attorney did not immediately return a call and lawyers for the other two defendants were not listed in court records.