Charges have been filed against a Milwaukee man in the shooting death of a 19-year-old Navy sailor
A suspect arrested by West Allis police in connection with the shooting death of a 19-year-old Navy sailor has been charged.
West Allis Police Department detectives and SWAT personnel arrested the 36-year-old Milwaukee man July 20 in the murder of Phoenix Castanon, according to a news release from the department. Police are not seeking any other suspects.
The suspect, Derrick Williams, was charged Saturday, July 23, with first-degree intentional homicide by use of a dangerous weapon.
If convicted, Williams faces life in prison.
It was not a tip, but good work by the department's detectives that led to the arrest, WAPD Deputy Chief Robert Fletcher said.
Castanon, of Eagar, Arizona, was fatally shot at about 2:40 a.m. May 8 near South 84th and West Becher streets, police said.
His fiancée, Ash Rodriguez, told the Arizona Republic that the two were planning an April 2024 wedding.
"He was always there to help, whether he knew you or not," Rodriguez said. "If he felt the need to step in, he would."
Castanon's career as an assessment sailor began in November 2020, said U.S. Navy spokesperson Matthew Mogle. He had been close to graduating from Navy technical school.
On May 9, West Allis police shared a description of the shooting suspect. Two days later, police released photos of the vehicle suspected of being used in the crime.
Contact Bob Dohr at 262-361-9140 or bob.dohr@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BobDohr1.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee man arrested and charged in the murder of a Navy sailor
