MILWAUKEE (AP) — The lawyer for the families of the three people former Wauwatosa police officer Joseph Mensah shot and killed has filed a federal lawsuit against Mensah and others in connection with one of the deaths.


What You Need To Know

  • The lawyer for the families of the three people former Wauwatosa police officer Joseph Mensah shot and killed has filed a federal lawsuit against Mensah and others in connection with one of the deaths.

  • Attorney Kimberley Motley wants to know more about the 2015 fatal shooting of Antonio Gonzales, the first shooting Mensah was involved in and it came five years before widespread protests calling for his removal

  • Mensah shot and killed Jay Anderson Jr. in 2016 and Alvin Cole in 2020

  • Court documents list attorneys for Mensah, who is now a Waukesha County deputy, or Weber, who retired June 1

Attorney Kimberley Motley said she wants to know more about the 2015 fatal shooting of Antonio Gonzales. It was the first shooting Mensah was involved in and it came five years before widespread protests calling for his removal.

A review of the case shows that Mensah shot the 29-year-old Gonzales eight times outside his home after Gonzales was wielding a sword, the Journal Sentinel reported.

“Definitely that’s information and evidence that we want to see exactly what the supposed threat was,” Motley said of the suit, which also names the city of Wauwatosa and former Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber.

The fatal shooting was deemed justified self-defense by the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office. Mensah did not face any charges, nor was he disciplined internally. Weber also awarded Mensah a medal of valor for his actions.

Mensah shot and killed Jay Anderson Jr. in 2016 and Alvin Cole in 2020. The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office also ruled those shootings justified self-defense.

A judge is expected to rule later this month whether to charge Mensah with the Anderson shooting.

Court documents list attorneys for Mensah, who is now a Waukesha County deputy, or Weber, who retired June 1.