Suspected shooter of mother of 4 told police a stranger broke in and killed her

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Deonte Wilkins, 23, of Milwaukee is facing one count of homicide by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon.

Milwaukee police officers located Raven Coley, 24, suffering from a gunshot wound at an apartment building around 10:45 p.m. on Feb. 4. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The Milwaukee County medical examiner later determined that a single gunshot wound to the head was the cause of death, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.

Deonte Wilkins was alone in the apartment, and told responding officers that a stranger had broken into the apartment, shot Coley, and left. Investigating detectives examined the scene and found no sign of forced entry.

A witness who said she was inside the apartment during the incident claimed moments before the shooting, she saw Wilkins on the phone with someone, talking about the gun he was holding. The witness claimed she then went to the bathroom and heard a shot. When she came out, she claimed Wilkins was jumping up and down and screaming. Coley was on the couch, bleeding.

The witness claimed another man was in the apartment at the time of the shooting -- and that he wrapped up Wilkins' gun and left with it.

Coley left behind four children, ages 8, 5, 1, and under 1.