Mayor Soglin asks residents, witnesses to cooperate with PD
Madison Mayor Paul Soglin made a plea to residents Saturday to help police as officers continue to investigate a string of gun violence including three murders in the last month in Madison.
“The series of homicides are tragically leading us on a path to perhaps the most violent year in the history of the city,” Soglin said.
At a news conference at the public library on West Mifflin Street, Soglin said the city of Madison is facing the violence together, and he asked witnesses and residents to help police as they seek to locate seven men in connection with the cases.
“It’s absolutely critical that we get full cooperation,” he said. “So we can turn these things over to the authorities.
Soglin also pointed out that anyone with knowledge who doesn’t speak up is also at fault.
“If one does not come fourth to protect the rest of the community with their knowledge they become complicit,” Soglin.
“There is no ‘we’ and ‘they,'” Soglin said, adding that Madison could be facing the most violent year in the city.
On April 19, 30-year-old Martez Moore died after he was shot outside O’Grady’s Pub on Mineral Point Road.
On Tuesday at 6:24 p.m., 38-year-old Darius Haynes died after he was shot at the BP gas station on Verona Road.
On Wednesday, 28-year-old Elijah James Washington III died after he was shot at the Capitol Petro Mart gas station on Rimrock Road just before 8 p.m., police said.
Madison police said Saturday that investigators believe they’re making progress in the cases as two men who police wanted to talk to in connection with the homicides were taken into custody overnight Friday.
Madison police Public Information Officer Lt. Tim Strassman told News 3 that William D. Flowers and Michael J. Collins had been arrested.
Flowers, 25, was a person of interest in the shooting death of 30-year-old Martez Moore outside O’Grady’s Pub last month. Police had been looking for him for more than three weeks.
Flowers was picked up at a residence in Fitchburg on an outstanding warrant not related to the murder, police said. It wasn’t clear Saturday how police learned about his whereabouts, Strassman said. Madison police worked together with Fitchburg police to arrest Flowers and he went without incident.
Overnight Friday, Collins was also arrested by Madison police, Strassman said. Collins is wanted for questioning in connection with recent incidents of shots fired. Madison investigators feel that they are making progress in the investigations, Strassman said.
Police have been looking for several other people in connection the the recent string of gun violence in the Madison area.
Police are still investigating the homicide outside O’Grady’s Pub and were still looking for Travis G. Smith Jr., 28, of Madison.
Police are still looking for Lordie J. Cole, Travis G. Smith Jr., Maurice Graham, Mitchell C. Hallmon, Michael J. Hallmon and Sorrell A. Gilmore. Investigators want to talk to the men.
Police are still seeking Kortney D. Moore, whom officials believe shot Washington. Moore should be considered armed and dangerous, and anyone who sees him should call 911, police said.
