KENOSHA, Wis. — Adam Scott Threlkeld, 45, of Milwaukee, the man Kenosha Police say fatally shot Antero Medina III, 33, of Kenosha, inside Shenanigan’s Sunday night before ambushing responding police officers with gunfire, has an extensive criminal history stretching back decades and was free on no-cash bail in a pending Milwaukee case involving an alleged attack on a police officer, authorities revealed Monday.

Paid Advertisement

Kenosha Police Chief Patrick Patton identified Threlkeld during a Monday press conference and said he had an extensive criminal history that includes arrests for sexual assault, strangulation and suffocation, exposing himself to a child, battery, disorderly conduct, vehicle theft and burglary. Patton said Threlkeld’s most recent Milwaukee arrest involved allegations that he battered a Milwaukee police officer while armed with a knife. That case remained open.

Paid Advertisement

Wisconsin Department of Justice records obtained by Kenosha County Eye independently confirm Threlkeld is a convicted felon and document a criminal history dating to at least 1999. Among the convictions shown in the state record is a 1999 felony burglary conviction that resulted in a four-year prison sentence.

Paid Advertisement

The DOJ record also confirms Threlkeld was arrested by Milwaukee Police on Sept. 2, 2024, for felony battery or threat to a judge, prosecutor or law enforcement officer and felony criminal damage to property with a weapon enhancer. Milwaukee County court records show Threlkeld appeared in custody on Sept. 6, 2024, when Court Commissioner Jeralyn Wendelberger released him on no-cash bail, ordering him into Level 5 JusticePoint supervision and prohibiting him from possessing dangerous weapons or firearms.

Paid Advertisement

The case remained pending for nearly two years. In August 2025, Threlkeld pleaded guilty to felony battery or threat to a judge, prosecutor or law enforcement officer and misdemeanor criminal damage to property, but the court withheld entry of the judgment of conviction and allowed him into Milwaukee County Drug Treatment Court under a deferred prosecution agreement.

Court records show that during a subsequent Drug Treatment Court review, the judge commended Threlkeld for his compliance with the program, awarded him four points and found him eligible for a program “fishbowl.” Threlkeld was awarded a $50 gift card for his compliance. The case was then scheduled for another review on Sept. 3, 2026.

Paid Advertisement

Threlkeld was scheduled to appear in Milwaukee County court Monday afternoon for a status conference in the still-pending case. He did not appear because he was hospitalized after being shot by Kenosha Police Sunday night. The court record states that Threlkeld was not present and that a bench warrant was issued, ordering him brought before a judge upon execution of the warrant. The court withheld any decision on new bail.

Paid Advertisement

The unusual timing meant that while a Milwaukee court was issuing a warrant for Threlkeld’s failure to appear Monday, he was hospitalized in Kenosha after police say he fatally shot Medina Sunday night and then opened fire on two Kenosha Police officers.

Paid Advertisement

Chief: Suspect ‘Ambushed’ Officers
Police were called at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday to Shenanigan’s in the 2400 block of 52nd Street for reports of shots fired. Officers found Medina suffering from gunshot wounds inside the bar. Despite efforts to save him, Medina died. Police learned the suspected gunman had fled but might still be nearby.

Patton said two additional Kenosha Police officers were driving toward the tavern when Threlkeld allegedly ambushed them.

“The suspect ambushed officers firing at them while they were inside their patrol vehicles,” Patton said. He said Threlkeld continued firing as the officers exited their vehicles, and the officers returned fire, stopping the threat.

Patton said video shows Threlkeld entering the roadway and firing at an officer as the officer drove past. The squad car absorbed what Patton described as the “vast majority” of the gunfire, with multiple rounds striking the police vehicle. The first officer got out and returned fire while a second officer also engaged Threlkeld.

Kenosha Police Officer Samuel Gibbons, who has just over three years with the Kenosha Police Department, was the first officer involved in the exchange of gunfire. Officer Nikki Schend, who has about seven and a half years with the department, arrived moments later and also exchanged gunfire with Threlkeld.

“I’ve watched these videos, and it’s a chilling reminder of what this suspect was trying to do as he was attempting to murder these officers,” Patton said.

Threlkeld was shot, taken into custody and transported to a hospital, where Patton said Monday he remained in stable condition. Neither officer suffered significant physical injuries.

Medina has a very lengthy criminal history including arrests and/or convictions for: first-degree child sexual assault, sexual contact with a person under 13, a felony (Kenosha, 2019, dismissed); battery or threat to a law enforcement officer, a felony (Kenosha, 2021); substantial battery with intent to cause bodily harm, a domestic abuse felony (Kenosha, 2022); felony bail jumping (Kenosha, 2022, and two counts in Racine County, 2023); misdemeanor battery (Racine, 2013, and Racine County, 2023); possession of cocaine as a repeater (Kenosha, 2016); resisting an officer (Kenosha, 2016); misdemeanor bail jumping (Kenosha, 2016); misdemeanor theft (Kenosha, 2016); possession of THC as a repeater (Kenosha, 2016); contempt of court (Kenosha, 2019); disorderly conduct (Racine, 2013; Kenosha, 2016; Kenosha, 2022; Racine County, 2023); first-offense OWI (Kenosha, 2024); battery under a Kenosha County ordinance (2026); fight in public (Kenosha, 2021); operating while suspended (Racine, 2014, and Kenosha, 2021); operating without insurance (Racine, 2014, and Kenosha, 2021); operating after registration suspension (Racine, 2014); and non-registration of a vehicle (Kenosha, 2024).

Chief Questioned About Why Threlkeld Was Free
During Monday’s press conference, Patton was directly asked how someone with Threlkeld’s extensive criminal history was out of custody.

“That’s a question I won’t be able to answer,” Patton said, noting that the pending case originated in Milwaukee rather than Kenosha. “I just know that he was.”

State records show Threlkeld has previously spent substantial periods behind bars. In addition to the four-year prison sentence stemming from his 1999 burglary conviction, DOJ records show a later prison term connected to felony strangulation and suffocation and other offenses. More recently, records show he was convicted of felony criminal damage to property and received a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence in November 2021. He was subsequently placed on extended supervision.

Bogdala praised the officers’ response, saying they were able to take direct action within minutes to counter the threat and protect themselves and the public. He also acknowledged that although the officers escaped physical injury, incidents of this magnitude can take a psychological toll on those involved.

First-Degree Intentional Homicide Referral Expected
Patton said Kenosha Police are handling the homicide investigation into Medina’s death and expect to refer several charges to prosecutors against Threlkeld, with the principal anticipated charge being first-degree intentional homicide. Charges stemming from the alleged attack on the officers will be referred separately through the independent investigation.

The Kenosha Racine Area Investigative Team is investigating the officers’ use of deadly force, with the Racine County Sheriff’s Office serving as the lead agency. Both Kenosha officers who fired their weapons have been placed on paid administrative leave in accordance with department protocol.

Police said there were witnesses at both the tavern and the subsequent shooting involving officers. Other than Medina and Threlkeld, Patton said police were not aware of anyone else being physically injured.

The Milwaukee case against Threlkeld involved an allegation that he battered a Milwaukee police officer while armed with a knife. Nearly two years later, Kenosha Police allege Threlkeld followed through with violence against law enforcement, opening fire on Gibbons and Schend and striking a police squad with multiple rounds.