Investigators tracked a wanted Milwaukee man to Norman, Okla., weeks after a deadly Oct. 20 shooting.
MILWAUKEE — A multi-state fugitive search ended Wednesday when U.S. Marshals arrested Martell D. Haire south of Oklahoma City in connection with an Oct. 20 shooting near 79th and Hampton that killed 16-year-old Marquis Champion and wounded two others, officials said.
Federal and local teams said they developed information that Haire had left Wisconsin shortly after the shooting. Investigators in Milwaukee contacted counterparts in Oklahoma, who pursued leads to a residence in Norman, roughly 900 miles away. The arrest capped more than three weeks of searching for the 37-year-old, who was wanted on a Milwaukee County warrant in the triple shooting. Authorities said there were no injuries during the arrest and that Haire was taken to a local jail to await extradition.
Witness accounts and police reports state the gunfire erupted inside a home after an argument. Champion, the nephew of Alderman Mark Chambers Jr., died at the scene, and two people with him were struck and survived. Chambers called the arrest a “huge relief” and thanked the Marshals Service along with Oklahoma officers. The case drew steady attention as investigators circulated Haire’s image and asked the public for tips. A $25,000 reward was publicized last week by Crime Stoppers and a local law firm.
Prosecutors charged Haire with first-degree reckless homicide with a dangerous weapon, two counts of first-degree reckless injury with a dangerous weapon, first-degree recklessly endangering safety with a dangerous weapon, and possession of a firearm by a felon. Officials said two wounded victims continue to recover. Authorities did not disclose whether the weapon used was recovered, and they did not announce any additional arrests. The Marshals Service said its fugitive task force often partners with local agencies to find suspects who move across state lines.
The 79th and Hampton neighborhood has experienced several police responses this fall, according to residents who described late-night patrols and flashing lights on the block. Neighbors said they watched detectives canvass door-to-door after the Oct. 20 shooting. “The fear was real,” said Denise Walker, who lives nearby. “Hearing they caught someone helps, but it doesn’t erase what happened.” A small memorial of candles and flowers grew outside the home in the days after the killing.
Haire remained in Oklahoma custody Thursday. Extradition proceedings will determine the timing of his return to Milwaukee County for an initial appearance on the felony charges, followed by a preliminary hearing. Prosecutors said they will announce court dates when transport is arranged and filings are complete.
Author note: Last updated Nov. 14, 2025.