Jury finds Tremaine Jones guilty on all counts in shooting that killed MPD Officer Corder, injured partner

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A jury found 23-year-old Tremaine Jones guilty on all counts Friday, April 3, in the shooting that killed Milwaukee police officer Kendall Corder and injured Officer Christopher McCray last summer. 

The state presented 35 witnesses and over 300 exhibits in making their case. Though the defense didn't call for any witnesses, we heard from the defendant Friday morning in a phone call from jail to his mother. 

"I was so (expletive) scared, mom, that (expletive) got me so emotional," Jones said in the call. "It was like, bro, I'm so (expletive) scared."

That phone call took place five days after Jones was arrested. You hear him say he was scared, crying at times over the phone. We also heard him say he "followed his instincts" to leave the apartment complex on 25th and Garfield and was getting ready to leave, adding that he's "not stupid."

You could also hear him say he thought the two officers, Kendall Corder and Christopher McCray, were "random people from the hood." He later said he didn't hear the officers identify themselves, but saw the flashlight attached to the rifle that Corder was holding - and after they stopped for what he said was 10 seconds, he said, "It was my reaction out of fear."

The state, through forensic experts, showed that Jones' fingerprint was on the tape around the magazine rifle. The shell casings from that rifle matched those in Officer McCray and Officer Corder's bodies. The prosecution emphasized this was all over a fight between Jones and two women he was seeing. 

The jury -comprised of eight men and four women- deliberated four felony charges. They began deliberating around 12:30 p.m. They asked multiple questions, returning with a guilty verdict just before 3:30 p.m.

Milwaukee police released a statement after the verdict was read, saying in part:

"The Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) recognizes what a difficult week this has been for our members who testified and were forced to relive the horror of the day we lost Officer Corder. These members were brave and heroic on that day and we admire their courage during this trial. Our thoughts are with them and Officer Corder’s family at the conclusion of this case.

MPD appreciates the great work from the members of MPD, other law enforcement and the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office that brought justice for Officer Corder and Officer Christopher E. McCray.

MPD continues to express our gratitude to Officer McCray for his courage and actions on that evening. We continue to support his physical and emotional journey."

The defense tells us Jones is disappointed in the outcome, and they'll likely look at appealing. The prosecution left without comment.

A sentencing date is scheduled for June 12. Jones faces life in prison and 83 years.