APPLETON (WLUK) — Tyrese Simmons, 21, was sentenced Monday to three years in prison for firing shots in Appleton’s Erb Park on June 25, 2024. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Emily Lonergan imposed three years of extended supervision. Simmons had previously been convicted of second-degree recklessly endangering safety and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Before sentencing, Simmons apologized in court, saying, “I just lost my way when I was out there, and I didn’t know who I really was until I got incarcerated. Now, I’ve got my family supporting me. I want to show my mom and my family I don’t want to live this life anymore, and I’m truly sorry to the people I scared.”
According to the criminal complaint, Simmons approached a group of juveniles in the park regarding a lost or stolen phone. He then pulled a gun from his backpack and fired three or four shots. Police recovered two spent 9mm casings and one unspent round near the park pavilion. Simmons was arrested on the scene, and a firearm was found in his backpack.
Simmons is currently serving time at the Racine Youthful Offender Correctional Facility for unrelated cases.
