MILWAUKEE- A bigoted Milwaukee man told his neighbors “you guys got to go” before allegedly shooting three of them dead after learning at least one of the victims didn’t speak English.
Dan J. Popp, 39, has been charged with three counts of first-degree homicide for the murders of Jesus Manso-Perez, 40, Mai Vue, 32, and Phia Vue, 36, in their apartment building on the city’s south side.
The March 6 tragedy began when Manso-Perez and his 18-year-old son walked by Popp’s apartment and turned down the offer of a beer.
“Oh, that’s why you don’t speak English. You’re Puerto Rican,” Popp said, according to the son.
Father and son headed down to the basement to do laundry, but as they turned to walk back up the stairs, they were met by Popp looming over them with a rifle in hand.
He said, “You guys got to go,” and shot Manso-Perez in the head at point-blank range.
The killer shot a second time but only wounded Manso-Perez’s son.
In another unit, the Vues, their four children and an adult relative heard gunfire and hid in a bedroom — but Popp kicked down the door and found the terrified family. He ordered Phia to come with him and, afterward, his family heard gunshots.
Phia was found dead in a puddle of blood in the bathroom.
When Popp came back to drag Mai out by her hair, the rest of the family fled.
She was later found shot inside the building.
All three victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers arrived at the site of the carnage and tried to talk to the gunman, who was still inside.
He declined to talk, but a few minutes later, Popp walked out on his own and told the officers, “I’m just going to go to the cop car by the curb” — although police say there was no patrol car in sight.
Then, the shooter lowered his weapon and surrendered.
Aside from the three murder charges, Popp is facing an attempted murder charge for wounding Manso-Perez’s son.
When Popp made his first court appearance on Thursday, his lawyer asked for a mental competency exam.
He was remanded to the county jail in lieu of $150,000 bail.
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