MILWAUKEE, WI – A Milwaukee couple is facing serious criminal charges after police say the father fatally shot his 4-year-old son and tried to cover up the circumstances with the help of the child’s mother.
Ralph Michael Taylor Jr., 35, has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide and illegal possession of a firearm after authorities allege he used a gun to shoot his young son inside their third-floor apartment on North 75th Street. His wife, Casandra Taylor, is charged with child neglect and unlawfully purchasing a firearm on behalf of her husband, who is prohibited from owning guns due to prior convictions.
The incident unfolded on July 10, when officers responded to frantic calls for help at the family’s residence. When police arrived, they found several people calling out for assistance and discovered the young boy, identified only by his initials “RT,” unresponsive in a bedroom. Despite immediate lifesaving efforts, the child was pronounced dead at the scene.
Initially, Ralph Taylor told investigators that his son was accidentally shot by a bullet that came through the window while the boy was playing on the bed. He also denied that there were any firearms inside the home. However, as the investigation progressed, detectives determined that Taylor’s narrative did not match the physical evidence.
According to court documents, the truth began to emerge after police spoke with witnesses and family members. A neighbor reported that Casandra Taylor was seen frantically yelling that someone had shot her son through a window, while also attempting to give a purse, suspected to contain a firearm, to her. The neighbor declined, and Casandra allegedly handed the purse to someone else. Police later confirmed it held a gun, though not the weapon used in the shooting.
A 12-year-old boy, Casandra’s son from another relationship, told detectives that his mother owned two guns and that his stepfather often kept one in the bedroom where the shooting occurred. He also described a history of domestic violence involving Ralph Taylor, accusing him of becoming aggressive and abusive when drinking.
The affidavit details a hostile atmosphere in the home on the day of the shooting. Ralph Taylor reportedly accused his stepson of stealing a video game console, broke Casandra’s laptop, and then led his 4-year-old son into the bedroom, refusing to let him go. Moments later, a single gunshot rang out.
An autopsy concluded the fatal shot had been delivered with the muzzle in the child’s mouth. Police later recovered the suspected murder weapon, concealed inside a closet’s storage container and wrapped in plastic bags. Ralph Taylor eventually admitted ownership of the gun.
When confronted with evidence that contradicted his initial account, Taylor claimed instead that his son accidentally shot himself while on the bed. Investigators dismissed this explanation, citing the child’s significant communication challenges due to autism.
Casandra Taylor, after being read her rights, confirmed to investigators that she had purchased firearms at her husband’s urging, knowing he was legally barred from owning guns. She admitted to receiving requests from Taylor for specific weapons and acknowledged responsibility for hundreds of rounds of ammunition found in the home.
Both parents remain jailed, with Casandra Taylor held on a $5,000 bond and Ralph Taylor on $500,000. Casandra Taylor’s next court appearance is set for July 24.