KENOSHA, Wis. — Aaron Cumberland, 16, of Kenosha, and Carlito Ayala, 19, of Kenosha were both formally charged in court today in connection with the fatal shooting of Bradford High School student Isiah “Zay” Cooper, as a judge ordered that their combined $3 million cash bail remain in place.
(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office)
(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office)
Ayala’s $2 million cash bail was continued, while Cumberland’s $1 million cash bail was also reaffirmed. Both defendants are due back in court on Feb. 18, 2026, for a preliminary hearing.
As previously reported, Cooper, 16, was shot and killed during what investigators say was a planned criminal encounter involving an illegal gun transaction in which both sides allegedly intended to rob each other. Cooper was on felony probation at the time of his death, according to sources familiar with the case.
Prosecutors allege Ayala was the shooter who fired the fatal rounds that struck Cooper twice — once in the face and once in the back. Cumberland is charged as party to the crime, despite not being accused of pulling the trigger.
A second individual, a 19-year-old man, was shot in the chest during the incident and survived. A third teen, the 16-year-old driver of the SUV involved, was allegedly pistol-whipped during the confrontation.
Information disclosed in court and during prior bail hearings indicates the shooting occurred during a planned illegal gun deal that both sides intended to turn into a robbery. Cooper was one of four individuals inside an SUV whose occupants allegedly planned to use counterfeit money to steal firearms. Cooper and another accomplice allegedly exited the SUV before it arrived at Cumberland’s apartment building.
Authorities allege Cumberland and Ayala were armed and entered the SUV under the guise of completing a gun sale while planning to rob the occupants. The driver allegedly handed over cash that was later determined to be counterfeit, after which Cumberland and Ayala allegedly struck the driver with their firearms. As the confrontation escalated, Cooper and another teen ran toward the passenger side of the vehicle, at which point gunfire erupted.
A witness concealed in the rear of the SUV previously told investigators that after Cooper collapsed to the ground, Ayala allegedly went through Cooper’s pockets and said, “I got it,” before both suspects fled back into an apartment building. The driver ran from the scene in fear. The witness also reported hearing a racial slur shouted during the chaos.
Police have recovered multiple firearms in an apartment associated with Cumberland and Ayala. Authorities have not confirmed whether Cooper or others in his group were armed, but prosecutors have said both groups entered the encounter with criminal intent to commit robbery.
Investigators have repeatedly emphasized that online rumors claiming the killing stemmed from a dispute over shoes are false and unsupported by the evidence presented in court.
Both defendants remain in custody as the case proceeds toward a preliminary hearing.
46 Responses
Wow. Sad.
Felony probation, buying guns with fake money. But he was such a good kid! Fuck off. That Aaron kid! Who the fuck would be afraid of that beavis looking loser
This entire incident was a blessing, some scum of society has been removed.
I let karma did its thing told my ass Arron gonna get the karma back after stealing shit hahahahaha
Aaron looks like a prison sex doll 🤣
…or a toilet brush.
Lmao. I was thinking the same thing. He’s gonna be walking around holding onto someone’s pocket wearing make up soon.
Disregard comment, didnt read he was only 16! Damn
Both lives destroyed over a gun! How foolish, now they will have a long time thinking about the stupid thing they did!
As if their lives weren’t destroyed before this happened. Why prolong the inevitable? None of these kids had a chance because none of them had PARENTS at home who cared. I want to bitch slap Isiah’s mom so badly. Surprised her loser ass hasn’t opened a GoFundMe yet.
She did
Who tf r u bitch drop a name
I wanna know who tf u r hunny
Why so you can rob me at gun point? Nope! I’m good, cockroaches!
I’m in cover security I will find out who you are very soon 😉
Nobody is worried about your bitch ass! You can’t even spell under cover! So dumb.
Faggot
Lives destroyed over “participating in Robbery of each other” Criminal actions ruins lives and has lots of bad impacts on many people. Think of the brothers, sisters, cousins, Parents, Aunts, Uncles all wondering what happened.
Berg sold firearms and drugs outta his house with a kid in the home. Continues to sit at home and post of Facebook like a hypocrite. Sounds about white
Is this article about Berg?
Must be white
Correct but he also sold drugs and guns and lost his kids, so same criminal history
You know two things can be true right
Ha. Berg is a loser, hypocrite, and comical to watch his posts as he can’t even see his kids for his crimes. F him and he don’t deserve any comment
Nobody got murdered.
If both parties involved were planning a robbery the other group of young men should also be charged with felony homicide. They were in the act of a felony if they were planning to rob the killers or even selling or buying an illegal firearm would be a felony. They didn’t get the jump so they lost the shootout but the death happened in their commission of a felony also. Need to stop referring to them as victims they are also perpetrators.
💯
Aaron when did he get like that 😅
He’s 16… born that way
I feel sorry that a young man lost his life. But his mother just raised another black man who ran the streets and it caused his life. He was 16 already on felony probation, why the fuck is he anywhere but home, hanging out with horrible influences and making life-ending decisions??? She knew he was running the streets and should have known she was going to lose him to the streets with him either behind bars or 6 ft under. Do better people, BE better people. Now I hope the two suspects get their freedom taken away. Parents of those other victims PLEASE take this as a sign that you lucked out and get to being a motherfucking parent before you are either doing weekend visits or grave visits.
Agreed. Thanks for her raising another statistic.
That Aaron kid is about to be passed around like a sex doll. Js
Has them big lips, will be a prison favorite. I don’t think the whites will claim him, so he is about to be a multi racial cum dumpster.
More like Land of cum
So are the other 3 going to be charged with a crime as well?
Hopefully.
Wanna act like the big boys time to get handled by the big boys 🤦🏼♀️💀 good luck to all you retards playing with guns. All it ever ends with is prison or death just like dope. Dumbass’
I’m more concerned about the “racial slur being shouted during the chaos”. Is this now a hate crime as well?
Seriously? These POS kids were planning on robbing each other and you’re worried about a racial slur? Their little wanna-be gang bangers of course they use slurs.
They’re* 😉
My bad
Calm down Francis, it was a joke.
Excuse me, it’s Francine. How dare you assume my gender.
Hang them all. Publicly. make these kids see what living a life of crime will lead to.
They played stupid games and won stupid prizes
More of the thirteen percent doing their 60% part.
Penalties offset