Teen trying to defend mom from stepdad accidentally kills her, Wisconsin cops say

A Wisconsin teenager accidentally shot and killed his mother, and now his stepdad is facing charges in her death, Milwaukee officials say.

Ziare Dalton, 26, was assaulting the 17-year-old’s mother, and the teen opened fire in an attempt to protect her, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

Dalton is charged with murder, and an arrest warrant was issued for him on May 5, court records show.

There were two other children, ages 9 and 11, at the King’s Park home during the April 18 shooting, according to police. The mother called 911 to report Dalton had been hitting her, and was now beating her teen son and saying he was going to kill him, the Journal Sentinel reported.

Her son started shooting while she was on the phone with 911, and the recording captured 10 gunshots, WDJT reported.

Dalton was hit several times but the gunfire also struck the mom, and though Dalton survived, she died from her injuries four days later, the station reported.

As of May 7, Dalton was in police custody, officials told the station.

The teen told police he was trying to defend his family, the Journal Sentinel reported. Though the most serious charge, murder, is being brought against Dalton, several charges have also been brought against the teen.

No attorney information was available for Dalton.

This story was originally published May 8, 2025 at 3:35 PM with the headline "Teen trying to defend mom from stepdad accidentally kills her, Wisconsin cops say."