KENOSHA, Wis. — A man arrested in connection to a deadly bar shooting in southeastern Wisconsin told detectives he “blacked out and [stuff] went down.”
Rakayo Alandis Vinson, 24, was formally charged in Kenosha County Circuit Court on Wednesday with three counts of first-degree intentional homicide and threes counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide.
Three people died and three others were injured during a shooting early Sunday morning at Somers House Tavern in the village of Somers.
Authorities said Vinson was involved in a fight that resulted in three people being kicked out of the bar. Tavern staff said they attempted to calm down Vinson shortly before the shooting.
According to court documents in the case, Vinson pulled out a gun after he was approached by two men on the bar’s patio.
A witnessed told police he heard Vinson tell the men “you know what’s up” before he began shooting.
Another man said he was with friends on the patio when they heard a couple of “pops.” According to the criminal complaint, the man watched Vinson shoot someone across the patio before he turned and fired the gun in the direction of his group. The man reported that two of his friends were injured in the shooting.
Detectives said surveillance video from the bar shows a man shooting on the patio and across the street from the bar. Shell casings were found in both locations, the complaint said.
Witnesses identified Vinson as the shooter. He was also seen on video and his wallet was found near where the shots were fired on the patio, the complaint said.
According to the complaint, Vinson initially denied being at the bar, but later admitted to the shooting.
Vinson was arrested on Sunday by Mount Pleasant police. Authorities said he stole a car from someone he knew in Racine County after the shooting.
Kevin Donaldson, 22, Cedric Gaston, 24 and Atkeem Stevenson, 26, died as a result of the shooting. All three are from Kenosha.
A 26-year-old man from Kenosha and two men from Illinois — one 22 and the other 23 — were injured in the shooting.
Vinson faces life in prison if convicted on any of the counts.
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