Correction: This story previously misstated the relation between Zollicoffer and Shamarla “Asir” Hare. The criminal complaint does not make clear any relation between the two.
A 36-year-old Milwaukee man was charged in three Aug. 8 murders, with prosecutors saying he shot his former girlfriend, her friend and a random stranger.
Thomas Zollicoffer is charged with seven felonies, including three counts of first-degree intentional homicide. Authorities say he is the man who killed three people – two killed in a domestic violence shooting and another killed later the same day – before he was arrested in an hourlong standoff Aug. 11 on the northwest side of Milwaukee.
Vanessa Deherrera, 26, and Scott Bucholz, 29, were shot and killed in the first incident in the 2100 block of West Pierce Street., during an incident police described as domestic-violence related. Shamarla “Asir” Hare was the victim of the latter homicide, which occurred on the 3400 block of North 39th Street, police said.
If convicted of the first-degree intentional homicide charges, Zollicoffer faces life in prison.
During an Aug. 12 interview, Zollicoffer admitted to police detectives he shot all three of the victims, according to a criminal complaint. He told the detectives he initially did not mean to kill Deherrera, only wound her, before he “lost it” and shot her again. He would also say he shot Bucholz because he was “talking shit” and Hare because “the [expletive] grabbed him.”
Authorities say the first two shootings happened at an apartment on the 2100 block of West Pierce Street. Seven people were there and when Zollicoffer arrived he began arguing with Deherrera, according to the complaint.
He later shot her and turned the gun onto those sitting on the couch, striking and killing Bucholz, according to the complaint.
That same day, Zollicoffer arrived at Hare’s home on the 3400 block of North 39th Street. There, he shot Hare twice, according to the complaint. As he left, witnesses said Zollicoffer apologized and said, “I’m sorry, now my life is over.”
Zollicoffer was arrested Aug. 11 after a standoff with police on the 4100 block of North 84th Street. There, authorities say he stayed with Elena S. Cole, 38 and of Milwaukee, in the days after the killings.
Cole allowed Zollicoffer to stay in her home despite knowing he had killed people and, at one point, left her children alone with him while she went out drinking, according to a criminal complaint filed against her. Cole told him to leave before she went drinking, but he did not and she still left, authorities say.
She told police Zollicoffer planned to have a shoot-out with police, if they came.
Cole was charged with a felony charge of harboring or aiding a felon, and three misdemeanor counts of child neglect in relation to Zollicoffer’s crimes.
Zollicoffer has a lengthy criminal history in Milwaukee. Since 2010, he has pleaded guilty in three criminal felony cases: a 2010 case for third-degree sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl; a 2014 animal fighting case; and in 2018 for possessing a firearm as a felon.
Zollicoffer’s first court appearance was Aug. 14. In all, he is charged with the following: three counts of first-degree intentional homicide and four counts of possession of a firearm by a felon.
Zollicoffer is the identical twin of Tommy D. Zollicoffer, who has pleaded guilty in recent years to fleeing police and possession of marijuana with intent. Tommy was once arrested in connection to murder, but found not guilty in a jury trial.
David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Authorities say Milwaukee man confessed to three murders
Reporting by David Clarey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By David Clarey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
