Wauwatosa Police Thwart Group's Plot to Stage Police Shooting

WAUWATOSA - Police say an 18-year-old Milwaukee resident, known by his peers as "The King" of a group called the "Hell's Fire Squadron" has been charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree intentional homicide for reportedly being involved with a Wauwatosa friend's plan to stage a shooting - targeting police - to prevent a second friend from going to jail.

According to a criminal complaint released Wednesday by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office, Wauwatosa Police learned of the apparent scheme when the friend's father reported finding a cache of ammunition stored under his son's mattress on February 25.

When Wauwatosa Police conducted their investigation into the friend, they obtained a search warrant to search the friend's iPad where they found text messages indicating there was plan to stage a shooting to help prevent the second friend from going to jail, the complaint said.

According to the criminal complaint, the friend engaged in a text message exchange in which he reportedly asked "the King," 18-year-old Ryan Allyn Sanders of Milwaukee for help to pull off the shooting.

Here is the text of that exchange, according to the complaint:

Friend: I’m going to need help with [the second friend]. He might be locked up and I already have the car for us as a get-away car and guns. I just need people to help me out.

Sanders: For him to escape?

Friend: Yep. There’s going to be a shooting though.

Sanders: I’m gonna make a call.

Friend: Thanks King

Sanders: When do you need backup?

Friend: On the 11th ready to go.

Sanders: OK

According to the criminal complaint, Wauwatosa Police interviewed Sanders on April 19, at which point Sanders understood his friend's plan to stage the shooting and approved of it. Sanders also admitted to police that he directed two people to serve as backup for the friend “with whatever he has planned.” Finally, Sanders acknowledged that no one in HFS does anything without his approval because he is the King, the complaint said.

Upon conviction for this offense, a Class B Felony, Sanders may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment not to exceed sixty years.

Sanders is being held in the Milwaukee County jail on a $7,500 cash bond. His next appearance in court is May 13.

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