Prosecutors say a dispute among children led to gunfire and a high-speed pursuit with four children inside an SUV.
MILWAUKEE — A 33-year-old Milwaukee woman faces 22 criminal charges after prosecutors accused her of shooting a 12-year-old boy during a dispute involving children selling bottled water, then leading police on a pursuit with four children inside her vehicle.
Cosetta Burrell was charged following the July 17 shooting near North 60th Street and West Silver Spring Drive. A criminal complaint says the boy was struck in the leg and taken to a hospital by his parents. Authorities have not released further information about his condition. Burrell has not been convicted, and the allegations against her remain subject to court proceedings.
Investigators said the confrontation began after several children argued over a neighborhood location used to sell water and juice. A witness told police that the injured boy regularly sold bottled water near his apartment and learned that another group of children had started selling drinks at the same median. The complaint says the boy went to the location, drove the other children away and damaged their cooler before returning home.
Burrell told investigators that her son called her and said the 12-year-old had bullied him and broken his cooler, according to the complaint. Prosecutors allege that Burrell then drove through the neighborhood looking for the boy. Several children and at least one other passenger were inside the white Nissan Pathfinder she was driving, court records say.
After finding the boy, Burrell allegedly stopped the SUV and exchanged words with him. Investigators said she retrieved a handgun from the vehicle, stepped outside and fired as the boy ran. One bullet struck the child in the leg, according to the complaint. Prosecutors also allege that Burrell fired toward the boy’s brother and that another bullet struck an occupied home nearby. A 2-month-old infant was among the people inside the home, but no injuries there were reported.
Witnesses told investigators that the woman fired several rounds before returning to the SUV and leaving. The complaint attributes threatening language to Burrell during the encounter. The boy was able to reach his home, where his parents found him and took him to a hospital.
Police located the Pathfinder at about 7:30 p.m. and attempted to stop it, according to the complaint. Burrell allegedly refused to pull over, ran a stop sign and led officers on a 5.7-mile pursuit that reached about 83 mph. Prosecutors said she swerved toward an officer who was placing tire-deflation devices in the roadway.
Four of Burrell’s children and an adult male passenger were inside the SUV during the pursuit, according to court filings. Investigators said the children were crying and visibly shaken when officers removed them after the vehicle stopped. Authorities also said the Pathfinder had previously been reported stolen by one of Burrell’s friends.
Burrell allegedly told investigators that she had planned to confront and physically fight the boy. She said she fired near his feet because she wanted to frighten him rather than kill him, according to the complaint. Prosecutors said she told investigators that the gun belonged to her girlfriend and that she threw it from the SUV during the pursuit. Her statements are allegations presented in the criminal case and have not been tested at trial.
Prosecutors also cited recorded jail calls as evidence. During one call, Burrell allegedly expressed regret about the shooting. In another conversation, she referred to herself as a hero, according to court reporting. At her initial appearance, Milwaukee County Circuit Court Commissioner Barry Phillips rejected that description while stressing that the accusations had not been proven.
Burrell is charged with 18 felony counts and four misdemeanor counts. The charges include first-degree reckless injury, child abuse, reckless endangerment, child neglect, fleeing an officer and firearm-related offenses. Prosecutors said she was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a previous felony conviction and had been released from prison 11 days before the shooting.
A court commissioner set Burrell’s bond at $100,000. She remained in the Milwaukee County Jail after her initial appearance and was scheduled to return to court July 28. An attorney representing her said in court that Burrell understood the seriousness of the charges and intended to appear at future proceedings.
Author note: Last updated July 25, 2026.