A Milwaukee woman is facing dozens of charges after she allegedly shot a 12-year-old boy during a dispute over a water-selling turf war involving her son, according to prosecutors.
Cosetta Burrell, 33, allegedly pulled up to the boy in an SUV on July 17, stepped out with a gun taken from her glove compartment, and told him “we going to do this” before firing multiple shots, according to a criminal complaint. The boy was hit once in the leg and managed to run home, where his parents rushed him to the hospital.
Investigators said the confrontation stemmed from a dispute between the boy and Burrell’s son over a spot where local kids sold water bottles for extra money. Witnesses told authorities that after an altercation over a cooler, Burrell arrived, fired several shots, and yelled a threat before driving off with her four children and another passenger still inside the vehicle.
Officers later located the SUV and attempted a stop, but Burrell allegedly fled, running a stop sign and leading police on a 5.7-mile chase reaching speeds of 83 mph. Authorities said she swerved toward an officer deploying tire-deflation spikes before the vehicle was finally stopped. Records show all four children were reportedly crying and shaking when removed from the car.
During questioning, Burrell reportedly admitted she intended to confront the boy and fired near his feet to “scare,” not kill him. She also allegedly described the chase as being in “GTA mode.” In recorded jail calls cited in the complaint, she reportedly expressed some regret but also claimed she was a “hero” defending her son’s right to earn money.
A local court commissioner reportedly rejected that claim outright during her initial hearing, telling her that no one considers a person who shoots a child a hero.
Burrell, who has prior child abuse convictions, faces 18 felony and four misdemeanor charges, including reckless injury and child neglect. She remains jailed on $100,000 bond, with her next court date set for July 28.