Sheboygan News

Two men allegedly involved in the Jan. 17 shootings in Sheboygan are in custody and have been formally charged in Sheboygan County Circuit Court.

Lawrence Sachel Buford, 18, of Milwaukee and Onterio Martez Girley, 19, of Milwaukee have been charged with first degree homicide and armed robbery, according to criminal complaints filed this week.

According to the criminal complaint, Buford and Girley traveled to Sheboygan in a stolen Mercedes Benz on the day of the shooting. Police say they went to Sheboygan to trade firearms before Buford ultimately shot a 19-year-old man to death and leaving an 18-year-old woman in critical condition during an apparent robbery at a South 10th Street residence.

Police said Buford was accompanied by Girley during the commission of the robbery and shootings.

According to the complaint, Buford and the male victim were depicted together in a Snapchat photo at 8:03 p.m. that night, about two minutes before police received reports of gunshots inside the residence. Police said the photo showed the male victim holding two handguns. The picture was removed from the website shortly afterwards, police said, but it had been screenshot by individuals known to the male victim before being removed. 

The photograph was ultimately provided to investigators, according to the criminal complaint.

Immediately prior to the Jan. 17 shooting, police said the 18-year-old female victim was in an adjacent room while Buford and Girley met with the male victim. Authorities say the men got into an argument in the other room, which led to the male victim being fatally shot. Police said Buford then entered the room where the female victim was, shooting her and fleeing the scene with Girley.

Police said the two suspects were apprehended days later by officers in Milwaukee following a stolen vehicle pursuit. A gun was recovered inside the stolen vehicle that matched the description of one of the firearms depicted in the Snapchat photograph. 

Buford and Girley were allegedly arrested alongside at least two other individuals; police say those individuals provided statements to police that put Buford and Girley at the scene of the Jan. 17 shooting in Sheboygan. Their statements allegedly identified Buford as the shooter of both victims.

According to the complaint, Buford admitted to being in Sheboygan recently but could not recall if he was in the city the night of Jan. 17. When confronted with a recovered Instagram conversation between Buford and the male victim, Buford allegedly told investigators that he had gone to Sheboygan, alone, to trade a firearm for marijuana. However, Buford allegedly told police that the trade never materialized because he did not see anybody at the Sheboygan residence.

Buford denied taking part in the shooting and said he didn’t know who fired the shots, according to police.

Buford has been charged with first degree intentional homicide, attempted first degree intentional homicide, possession of a firearm by an adjudicated delinquent and armed robbery with use of force – party to a crime.

Girley has been charged with felony murder – armed robbery – party to a crime.

Both men made initial appearances in Sheboygan County court on Jan. 2. Buford and Girley are next scheduled for court Jan. 9 for a status conference, with their preliminary hearings set for Jan. 11.

Dan Colton has spent 10 years as a reporter and editor in Wisconsin and Vermont. Contact him by email at sheboyganconews@gmail.com or by phone at 920-449-0944.