MILWAUKEE — A groomsman opened fire at a wedding reception in Milwaukee on June 20, shooting two guests after a confrontation that started when he ate meatballs directly with his hands instead of using a plate.
The incident took place around 9:45 p.m. at the Aria Business Center located at 5444 West Fond du Lac Avenue. According to charging documents, 41-year-old Thomas Redrick Williams was in the kitchen area helping himself to meatballs when the bride’s cousin told him he should use a plate and utensils. Williams responded by punching the woman in the face. Her brother-in-law immediately stepped in to intervene, leading to a physical scuffle between the two men.
During the struggle, Williams pulled out a Taurus 9mm handgun and fired multiple shots toward the pair. The bride’s cousin was struck in the arm and upper body, while her brother-in-law was hit in the back of the neck. Both victims survived their injuries and were rushed to a local hospital for treatment. One witness initially told investigators she did not believe Williams had fired the shots himself, but other accounts and identifications confirmed he was the shooter.
The bride, who had been watching the altercation through a service window, heard the gunshots and saw Williams leave the kitchen carrying the firearm. She followed him outside and confronted him near a black Chevrolet Escalade registered to his wife. The two struggled as she tried to prevent him from leaving. She managed to grab the key fob from him before he fled the scene on foot. The Escalade remained at the venue.
Police responded to reports of shots fired and arrived to find the two injured guests inside the venue. Officers quickly secured the scene, recovered the Taurus 9mm handgun from the front passenger floor area inside the building, along with an iPhone and an envelope addressed to Thomas Williams. The bride provided officers with the key fob and gave a statement identifying Williams, whom she knew as “Boog,” as the man who left the kitchen with the gun. Multiple witnesses later identified him in photo arrays as the shooter.
Williams had a prior felony conviction for strangulation from 2014 and was free on bond in a separate case involving multiple counts of felon in possession of a firearm. Court records show his bond conditions prohibited him from possessing guns or committing new offenses. He now faces two counts of first-degree reckless injury while using a dangerous weapon, one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, and one count of felony bail jumping. An arrest warrant was issued in late June, and he remains at large.
This case shows how a minor disagreement over basic etiquette at a family celebration can turn deadly when a firearm is involved, especially by someone already barred from possessing one. The rapid escalation from words to violence left two people wounded and cut short what should have been a joyful occasion for the newlyweds and their guests. It also raises questions about security at private events and the real-world consequences when prohibited individuals gain access to weapons.
The two victims are recovering from their injuries. Authorities continue to search for Williams and are asking anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact Milwaukee police. Details of the case are available through Milwaukee County court records. The incident remains under active investigation.
