Wisconsin parents charged with giving gun to teen son, who allegedly used it to kill a man

MILWAUKEE — Two parents are accused of providing a gun to their 14-year-old son who then allegedly used it to kill another man in Milwaukee.

The teen's father, Jammie Yerks, of Milwaukee, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, party to a crime/use of a dangerous weapon.

The teen's mother, Chacette Buchanan, of Menasha, Wis., is charged with intentionally contributing to the delinquency of a child resulting in death, party to a crime.

The teen is charged as an adult for fatally shooting 27-year-old Dennis Smith Jr. on Aug. 18. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel didn't identify the boy because he still may be waived into juvenile court.

The complaint says the boy's companion called the father while the victim and boy argued. The parents drove over and the father allegedly gave the gun to the mother, who gave it to the boy.

According to the Journal Sentinel, the complaint said that after killing Smith, the boy got into his parents' car, and they fled. The boy and his parents were arrested Aug. 31 in Menasha, which is near Appleton.

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