“We are pleased to announce that Lawrence G Franklin was arrested on 11-21-24 in Plano, Texas, by the United States Marshal Service’s Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force with the assistance of the Plano Police Department,” said Kenosha Police Lt. Josh Hecker. “The Kenosha Police appreciates all of the assistance provided by the US Marshal Service and the support provided by the Plano Police Department. Franklin will attend an extradition hearing in Texas before being transported back to Kenosha. This case, like many others, relied on hard work and a team approach. That team included many law enforcement officers from various departments, citizens, business owners, and many others.”

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On September 9, 2024, Franklin was charged with two counts of 1st Degree Intentional Homicide, both as Repeaters and with the Dangerous Weapon Enhancers for the shooting death of Amiah Prather. Franklin was also charged with Possession of a Firearm By a Felon as a repeater, and four counts of Felony Bail Jumping, all as repeaters. He faces a mandatory minimum of life in prison, but a judge may allow for parole in 20 years.

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According to Franklin’s mugshot from the Collin County, TX Sheriff’s Department, he seemed to change his appearance, at minimum by cutting off his dreadlocks.

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On September 6, 2024, Sgt. Barriere of the Kenosha Police Department arrived to the scene of the shooting first. Sgt. Barriere observed a silver GMC Acadia that was later found to be registered to Amiah Prather. Upon approaching the vehicle, Sgt. Barriere observed a woman, who was later identified as Amiah, slumped over the driver’s seat towards the front passenger seat. Amiah was unconscious and Sgt. Barriere observed a large amount of blood. Sgt. Barriere observed a gunshot wound to the right side of Amiah’s head. Sgt. Barriere, a military veteran, attempted live saving efforts and Amiah was transported by rescue to Froedtert South Pleasant Prairie hospital. During the course of Amiah’s treatment there it was determined that Amiah was approximately 8 months pregnant. An emergency C-section was performed. Amiah’s unborn baby, who she had named Honesti, did not survive and was pronounced deceased at Froedtert Pleasant Prairie hospital.

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Amiah was taken by Flight for Life to Froedtert Milwaukee. Information from the Kenosha Medical Examiner’s Office indicates that Amiah was pronounced deceased at the Froedtert Milwaukee ER. Based on a CT scan it appears that the bullet entered Amiah’s right temporal lobe with a path through her brain and an exit of her left temporal lobe. Amiah suffered multiple facial fractures and a subarachnoid hemorrhage.

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Amiah’s sister, who called 9-1-1 was on scene to answer questions from police. She stated that the person who shot Amiah was Lawrence Franklin, her boyfriend of several years. Amiah’s sister told police that Franklin had been drinking and the three of them were spending the day together and Amiah and Franklin were arguing for most of the day.

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Amiah’s sister stated that they were all in Amiah’s silver GMC Acadia to go and get food. Amiah’s sister was in the front passenger seat. Franklin was sitting behind Amiah who was driving.

Amiah’s sister stated that prior to leaving a male who she did not know was outside and told Amiah she was cute. Amiah’s sister said that angered Franklin who said he was going to go do something and began walking towards the male, but then came back. Amiah’s sister stated that they then drove away southbound. Amiah’s sister said she had her headphones in. Amiah’s sister stated that they stopped at about 65th Street and 12th Avenue when she took her headphones out and she heard Amiah say that if Franklin was not going to pay for her food then he should get out of the car.

Amiah’s sister stated that she saw Franklin rolling down the back window and thought he was going to reach his arm out the window so he could open the door to get out. Amiah’s sister stated that she then heard a loud nose and saw smoke. Amiah’s sister stated that her ears were ringing. When Amiah’s sister looked over, Amiah was slumped over with blood coming out of her head. Amiah’s sister indicated that she assumed Amiah had been shot. Amiah’s sister stated that she did not see Franklin with a gun and she did not see him shoot Amiah, but there was no one else in the car with her and Amiah. Amiah’s sister stated that she exited the vehicle and ran, fearing for her life. Amiah’s sister was able to get to a nearby house and call 911.

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There were nearby witnesses who saw the shooting, and Franklin running away from the car. Franklin was also on video from witnesses and nearby businesses and homes. A bottle of Remy Martin and a gun were located. Police learned that the gun was purchased the same day from Paddock Lake Sporting Goods by a woman named Kaliyah Patterson. Surveillance videos showed that Franklin was with her when she bought the gun. The video also confirmed that the defendant provided Kaliyah with a credit card to purchase the firearm.

An officer spoke to Nimah Franklin, the defendant’s sister. She had come to the scene of the shooting because she spoke to her mother, who said she received a phone call from Franklin who said, “You’ll never see me again.”

Franklin, was already wanted during the commission of the murder. He had two active felony warrants for many felony and misdemeanor counts of violence towards Prather. Franklin participated in the riots in Kenosha of 2020. Law Enforcement arrested him for a curfew violation, but DA Graveley declined to charge him and he was released.

Here is a small portion of his arrest and conviction history:

Felony(s) of unknown type as Juvenile (Guilty)
Carry Concealed Weapon (Dismissed)
Possess Firearm – Adjudicated Felony Delinquent (Guilty) (Racine Judge – 3 Years Prison)
Possess Dangerous Weapon – Person Under 18 (Dismissed)
Felony Theft of Movable Property from Corpse (Guilty) (Judge Wagner (D) – Probation)
Felony Bail Jumping (Dismissed)
Felony Bail Jumping (Guilty) (Racine Judge – Concurrent Jail, Which Means No Punishment)
Resisting or Obstructing an Officer as Repeater (Dismissed)
Felony Strangulation and Suffocation as a Repeater (Pending)
Felony Bail Jumping
Domestic Battery as a Repeater (Pending)
Domestic Disorderly Conduct as a Repeater (Pending)
Felony Intimidate Victim/Domestic Abuse, as a Repeater (Pending)
Domestic Battery, as a Repeater (Pending)
Domestic Disorderly Conduct, as a Repeater (Pending)
Contact after Domestic Abuse Arrest, as a Repeater (Pending)
Stalking (DA Refused to Prosecute)
Disorderly Conduct (DA Refused to Prosecute)
Battery (DA Refused to Prosecute)

The Kenosha DA’s office worked hard to keep Franklin out of prison.

Child Rape Charges

Franklin is also wanted in Milwaukee for child rape. Franklin was charged with two serious child sexual assault charges in Milwaukee County. This is a second warrant for his arrest – the Kenosha warrant is for $1.5 Million and the Milwaukee County warrant has no monetary amount associated with it.

*Graphic Details*

According to the criminal complaint:

On August 12, 2024, Officers responded to St. Joseph’s hospital for a sexual assault complaint. Upon arrival, Officers spoke with the 12-year-old victim of a sexual assault. She stated that she lives on Granville Road in Milwaukee. She stated that on August 11, 2024, at approximately 10:15 p.m., she was in the hallway of her apartment building on her phone when Lawrence Franklin walked past her and grabbed her phone out of her hands. She stated that Franklin then entered apartment #12. She stated that she opened the front door of the apartment to try to get her phone back, and located Franklin in a bedroom inside that apartment. She stated that when she entered the bedroom, Franklin was behind the bedroom door. She stated that Franklin closed the door behind her, pinned her to the floor between the bed and the closet, and pulled down her pants. She stated that Franklin then put his penis inside of her “hole.” She stated that Franklin stopped assaulting her when her mother called her cell phone at 10:25 p.m. She stated that she left the apartment returned to her apartment.

Officers responded to Granville Road in Milwaukee, and spoke with a woman who lives in the unit where the 12-year-old victim was alleged to have been raped. She stated that Franklin is her son, and he lives in the unit with her approximately 2 nights a week. Franklin’s mother stated that Franklin was at the apartment on August 11, 2024, but left the location at some point prior to Officers arrival.

On August 12, 2024, Detectives assembled a photo array, and presented it to the victim. Upon viewing the photo array, she identified Franklin as the individual who sexually assaulted her. On August 16, 2024, a Forensic Interviewer conducted a forensic interview with the victim. After demonstrating knowing the difference between a truth and a lie, and promising to tell the truth, she stated that Franklin took her phone from her and walked into apartment #12. She stated that she walked into apartment #12, and entered a bedroom, which was the only room with an open door inside the apartment. She stated that, upon entering the bedroom, Franklin shut the bedroom door, pulled both his and her pants down, and put his penis inside of her vagina. She stated that she felt a sharp pain when Franklin first put his penis inside of her vagina.

Franklin was charged with First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child (Sexual Intercourse, Child Under 12 Years of Age) and Child Enticement. Franklin faces a maximum of 85 years in prison and a minimum of 25 years in prison if convicted just for the Milwaukee County charges.