Milwaukee Man Tremaine Jones, 22, Charged with First-Degree Intentional Homicide in Deadly Ambush of MPD Officers: Officer Kendall Corder Killed, Officer Christopher McCray Injured in Bush-Hiding Attack on North 24th Place

A community is in mourning and a city’s law enforcement agency is shaken after a harrowing ambush left one Milwaukee police officer dead and another injured in the line of duty. Tremaine Jones, a 22-year-old Milwaukee resident, now faces a litany of grave charges in connection with the attack, including first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, and first-degree recklessly endangering safety, all with the use of a dangerous weapon. The formal charges were filed just days after a violent Thursday night encounter unfolded in the heart of the city.

The Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) has identified the slain officer as 32-year-old Kendall Corder, a six-year veteran of the force whose dedication, skill, and sacrifice came to an abrupt and tragic end. His fellow officer, 29-year-old Christopher McCray, also with more than six years of service, sustained injuries in the same shooting but survived and was released from Froedtert Hospital on Saturday afternoon. The emotional and physical scars from this attack, however, will last far beyond the immediate recovery.

The incident occurred Thursday night in the 2200 block of North 24th Place, near North 25th Street and West Garfield Avenue, a residential area where officers were dispatched following reports of a person with a weapon firing shots. This type of call—an “armed subject firing in public”—ranks among the most dangerous scenarios police officers can encounter. It requires rapid response, situational awareness, and readiness for unpredictable violence.

According to the MPD, when Officers Corder and McCray arrived at the scene, the situation escalated with terrifying speed. Tremaine Jones, the alleged gunman, was reportedly hiding in the bushes along the alley—effectively staging an ambush. As the officers approached, Jones opened fire, striking both officers before they had the opportunity to return fire or seek cover.

The shots that rang out in that alley were not random. Prosecutors now allege that Jones acted with deliberate and lethal intent, lying in wait to shoot responding officers. The first-degree intentional homicide charge related to Officer Corder’s death reflects the state’s assertion that Jones planned or carried out the act with premeditated resolve. The accompanying attempted homicide charge for the shooting of Officer McCray demonstrates the severity of the second assault and reinforces that this was not a chaotic crossfire, but a calculated strike.

Jones was apprehended early Friday morning, several hours after the shooting, though details surrounding his arrest—whether he was armed, whether he resisted, or whether he confessed—have not yet been made public. The speed of his capture suggests law enforcement had a strong initial lead, possibly aided by witness accounts, surveillance footage, or forensic evidence recovered from the scene.

The attack took place in an **alleyway—narrow, enclosed, and hard to maneuver—**factors that left the officers exposed and limited their tactical options. Investigators believe that Jones leveraged the terrain to his advantage, using the cover of darkness and the concealment of overgrown shrubbery to position himself unseen. This, officials suggest, was a deliberate effort to catch the officers off-guard, eliminating any chance of reaction.

Both officers were struck before being able to fire their weapons, highlighting both the surprise of the ambush and the immediate threat Jones posed. Emergency medical services arrived swiftly, and the officers were rushed to Froedtert Hospital. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, Officer Corder succumbed to his injuries on Sunday—two days after the attack—surrounded by colleagues, family, and an agency now grappling with his loss.

The charges against Tremaine Jones are among the most severe in Wisconsin criminal law. First-degree intentional homicide carries a potential life sentence without the possibility of parole. The attempted homicide and reckless endangerment charges each carry additional decades of potential incarceration. These charges also reflect the gravity of assaulting law enforcement officers—public servants who respond without hesitation to safeguard communities, even amid personal risk.

Milwaukee Police Chief and department leadership have not yet made a public address, but statements from internal sources and court filings point to a case the city will be following closely. The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office is expected to seek a high cash bond—or request Jones be held without bail—due to the violence of the act, his potential flight risk, and the danger he presents to the public.

As Officer McCray recovers from his injuries, he may soon become a key witness in the prosecution’s case. His testimony, along with forensic evidence—such as ballistic analysis, gunshot residue, and shell casing trajectories—will play a central role in proving premeditation and lethal intent. Prosecutors will also be looking for any evidence of motive, whether personal, ideological, or behavioral. At this time, no motive has been disclosed.

This attack comes amid rising national awareness of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers, particularly during domestic or weapons-related calls. Officers Corder and McCray were executing their duty—responding to community concerns about gunfire—when they were blindsided by someone who, if the charges are proven, had planned their destruction. The implications are both specific and systemic: it highlights not just the risks of the badge, but the need for deeper dialogue about community violence, mental health, firearm access, and support for public safety personnel.

The fallen officer, Kendall Corder, now joins a solemn list of officers nationwide who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. His service, cut short at 32, will be honored by a department and a city still reeling from the loss. He was more than a badge—he was a partner, a friend, a protector. Those who worked beside him will carry the weight of his absence long after the headlines fade.

This investigation remains active. As the criminal case against Tremaine Jones advances through the court system, the community, police department, and local leaders will be watching closely—not only for justice, but for insight into how to prevent such tragedies from repeating. The trauma of this shooting—on families, colleagues, and an already-stretched police force—is impossible to calculate.

For now, one officer recovers, one is mourned, and one suspect waits to answer to charges that could define the rest of his life.