MILWAUKEE, WI – A Milwaukee man will spend decades behind bars after a judge sentenced him for killing his younger sister and shooting both of his parents during a violent family confrontation earlier this year.
Gerardo Jimenez-Rico, 32, received a 35-year prison sentence Tuesday in Milwaukee County for the January murder of his 22-year-old sister, Jocelyn Jimenez. He will also spend 19 years on extended supervision following his release, according to court records.
Jimenez-Rico pleaded guilty last month to first-degree reckless homicide, attempted second-degree intentional homicide, and first-degree reckless injury in connection with the shootings. The court imposed the sentence after considering the brutality of the attack and his admission of guilt.
Police responded to a home on West Cheyenne Street around 6:45 p.m. on Jan. 22, 2025, following reports of gunfire. When officers arrived, they discovered three adults suffering from gunshot wounds inside the residence. Firefighters declared Jocelyn Jimenez dead on the scene.
Investigators learned from Jimenez-Rico’s mother, one of the surviving victims, that her son was responsible for opening fire on his family. Before law enforcement could begin their search, Jimenez-Rico surrendered at a Milwaukee police station, admitting that he had shot his family members.
Detectives later interviewed Jimenez-Rico, who revealed longstanding tension within the family. According to his account, his parents and sister had just returned from a month in Mexico, a trip he was unable to join due to lack of funds. He claimed that his family frequently chastised him for being unemployed and accused them of bullying him.
On the night of the tragedy, Jimenez-Rico offered to help with his family’s luggage but was told his help wasn’t needed. He said that after returning to his basement room, his father confronted him about dirty dishes—an argument that escalated as his sister joined in, according to police documents.
Jimenez-Rico told detectives he carried a handgun with him during the confrontation. The dispute intensified when his father suggested he should move out. Feeling overwhelmed by years of perceived mistreatment, Jimenez-Rico said he opened fire on his father.
He then shot his sister after she allegedly armed herself with a knife, claiming he acted in self-defense. An autopsy revealed Jocelyn Jimenez suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Jimenez-Rico’s mother was also shot moments later, though he said he could not explain why he fired at her.
Authorities said the violence devastated the family and left relatives reeling from the sudden loss. The sentencing aims to deliver justice for the victims while holding Jimenez-Rico accountable for the deadly confrontation.
Jimenez-Rico is set to begin serving his sentence immediately, the judge ruled.