Man Pours Gas on Car With Wife and 3 Kids Inside

MILWAUKEE, WI — Police are searching for a Milwaukee man who poured gasoline on his car while his wife and three children inside. He faces multiple charges after an argument between he and his wife escalated into potentially tragic actions.

According to the criminal complaint, an argument between Dion Willis, Jr., 26, and his wife took place on April 12 after Willis was confronted about being out late at a party.

The argument quickly escalated and at one point, Willis reportedly punched the touchscreen radio in the car, then grabbed a red gasoline container from the trunk of the car and poured gas on the front and front interior of the vehicle, "enough to cover the windshield like it was raining" while she and the three children were inside the car, his criminal complaint stated.

The complaint stated that Willis said "I'm going to light it up!" during the argument, before opening the car door, throwing the gas container at her and then leaving with a friend.

According to police, Willis' wife drove through the neighborhood in search of Willis, driving around the block multiple times in an attempt to scare him with the car. At the time their three children were still in the car and none were in their car seats. An eyewitness stated that he observed a black female driving a red SUV recklessly northbound on N. 54th Street, driving recklessly in what appeared to be an attempt to run over a male pedestrian.

According to the complaint, as Willis' wife was driving around the block, she also reportedly struck and rammed a blue Hyundai Sonata, pushing it half a city block before she ceased ramming the vehicle.

When Milwaukee Police responded to the scene that April 12 night, they saw Willis standing in the alley between 54th Street and 55th Street, and a red Dodge Journey driving south in the alley.

According to police, officers conducted a traffic stop on the driver of the red Dodge Journey which was driven by Willis' wife. Willis attempted to confront his wife, however officers detained Willis, keeping him away from his wife and three children who were in the back seat.

Officers spoke with the spouse several times, who stated that there had been an argument with her and Willis in front of their Milwaukee home. She told police she was mad at him for coming home from a party early in the morning, the complaint stated.

Willis faces four counts of recklessly endangering safety, and faces up to 30 years if he is convicted.

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