Michael Ray Green

We're learning more about the suspect arrested in the murder of 21-year-old UWM student Joe Munz.

His name is Michael Ray Green. And he has killed before.

Green, a 24 year-old from Milwaukee, was on extended supervision stemming from a conviction in a hit-and-run accident in 2001 that killed 3 year-old Aja Chism. When he was arrested, Green told officers that he was speeding away from gunshots but later admitted that he was lying

From The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The suspect shot Joseph Munz, a 21-year-old University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student, multiple times while Munz struggled with the assailant, Milwaukee police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz said.

The suspect, who pleaded no contest in July 2001 to charges of homicide by negligent operation of a motor vehicle and hit-and-run involving [3 year-old Aja Chism], was sentenced then to three years in prison and three years of extended supervision.

The decision to put Green on extended supervision proved to be a fatal mistake.

Furthermore, Green's "supervision" was woefully inadequate.

The criminal justice system let Joe Munz down.

Green is responsible for Munz's death. He pulled the trigger. He's the killer.

BUT--

The fact that Green was out in the community and supposedly being supervised cannot be dismissed. The failures of the system do play a part in Munz's murder.

He was arrested Sunday night and the case has been sent to the district attorney for charging, Schwartz said.

Munz had just finished a delivery for Jimmy John's about 8:15 Oct. 10 when he was accosted and shot in the 3200 block of N. Weil St.

...Schwartz said citizen cooperation was key in making the arrest. Last week, police released information about a white van spotted at the scene of Munz's killing, and tips from the public directed police to that vehicle.

It appears the assailant robbed Munz, who fought and continued to fight after he was shot, Schwartz said.

After the assailant emptied the gun's magazine of bullets, Munz kept fighting and was pistol-whipped, she said.

Consider how brutal Green's attack on Munz was.

Green attempted to rob him, but didn't get one penny.

He shot him multiple times, as many times as he could, using every bullet he had.

Green then beat Munz.

...At a candlelight vigil Monday night at Spaights Plaza at the UWM campus, Munz was described as a big, strong "teddy bear" who made friends easily, protected women and greeted everyone with giant bear hugs.

...Jenny Thomas, a UWM junior, recalled how Munz would never let female students walk home unescorted late at night.

"He was the one who took care of everybody," she said.

Another UWM junior, Brett Kabelowsky, said it didn't surprise him that Munz fought his attacker.

"He was going to fight back," Kabelowsky said. "He was a tough kid."

Joe Munz was tough, tough enough to fight his murderer even after being mortally wounded.

What strikes me about Munz is how caring he was. His selflessness and concern for others is so evident in the comments of those closest to him.

The senselessness of his violent death must be so difficult for his family and friends to accept. It's always hard to lose someone you love, but when the death is the result of a crime, that poses a different set of challenges to come to terms with.

The fact that Green has killed before and was a known threat to society is a painful addendum to the story of Munz's murder.

My heart goes out to his loved ones. His death is such a terrible loss for them.

His death is also a loss for the UWM community, the Milwaukee community, and the human family.

We're all diminished when good people are taken away.