The legal proceedings surrounding the violent death of 15-year-old Makai Neal have reached their conclusion in Milwaukee, with the final two defendants sentenced Friday. The conclusion marks the end of a harrowing case that began with a dispute over a firearm and ended with a teenager’s body discovered in the charred remains of a gray Honda Accord.
Milwaukee County Judge David Borowski handed down sentences to Shatise Williams, 41, and her daughter, Shatianna Williams, 23, both of whom pleaded guilty to one count of harboring or aiding a felon. The sentencing of the mother and daughter completes a sweeping judicial sweep of five individuals involved in the killing and subsequent cover-up of the youth’s death.
The case, which gripped the local community for its sheer brutality and calculated nature, detailed a sequence of events where a momentary conflict escalated into a homicide and a coordinated effort to destroy evidence. While the primary perpetrator received a decades-long sentence, the court’s focus this week was on those who facilitated the aftermath of the crime.
The Final Sentences: Mother and Daughter
In court on Friday, the focus shifted to the role of the Williams family in the aftermath of the shooting. Shatise Williams was sentenced to 15 months in prison, with credit given for nearly four months already served. Following her release, she will remain under extended supervision for another 15 months.
Her daughter, Shatianna Williams, faced a different trajectory. Though initially sentenced to a year in the Community Reintegration Center, Judge Borowski stayed that sentence, instead ordering her to serve two years of probation. The leniency reflects the varying degrees of culpability and cooperation within the group of five defendants.
The Williams women were implicated after investigators discovered they had listened to the shooter explain his intentions and subsequently assisted him in procuring materials to hide the crime. According to police records, the women were seen purchasing a can of gasoline for the primary suspect, a detail that prosecutors argued was critical in the effort to torch the vehicle and conceal the evidence of the homicide.
A Timeline of Violence and Betrayal
The tragedy unfolded in February 2024, beginning as a social gathering that turned lethal. Investigators established that 22-year-old Charles Roby and 25-year-old DJ Chandler had been spending time with Makai Neal on the night of the killing. The atmosphere shifted when Roby accused the 15-year-old of stealing a gun from him.
The confrontation quickly turned violent. As Neal attempted to call his cousin to report the dispute, Roby shot the boy. The brutality of the act was compounded by the victim’s final moments; prosecutors revealed that Neal was conscious and pleading to be taken to a hospital as Roby drove him away from the scene.
Rather than seeking medical help, Roby sought to eliminate the witness. He called a friend and, while the Williams women listened, stated he “had to finish [the victim] off” because he feared the boy would report the shooting to authorities. This admission underscored the calculated nature of the crime, transitioning from a spontaneous act of violence to a deliberate execution and cover-up.
The Cover-Up and the Car Fire
The final stage of the crime took place near 26th and Locust, where the gray Honda Accord was set ablaze. The fire was intended to destroy forensic evidence and the body of the teenager. However, the effort failed to hide the truth. When police discovered the vehicle, the Milwaukee County assistant medical examiner determined that Neal had died from multiple gunshots, confirming the fire occurred after the homicide had already taken place.
The conspiracy involved several players. Keyshawn Barnett, 25, was identified as being present during the shooting, the purchase of the gasoline, and the eventual torching of the car. DJ Chandler was similarly placed at the scene during the final stages of the crime.
The legal fallout for the participants varied based on their specific roles in the crime and their subsequent pleas:
| Defendant | Primary Charge(s) | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Charles Roby | 1st-Degree Reckless Homicide; Mutilating a Corpse | 32 years prison; 17 years supervision |
| DJ Chandler | Harboring a Felon; Gun Possession | 8 years prison; 6 years supervision |
| Shatise Williams | Harboring/Aiding a Felon | 15 months prison; 15 months supervision |
| Keyshawn Barnett | Harboring/Aiding a Felon | 1 year prison; 1 year supervision |
| Shatianna Williams | Harboring/Aiding a Felon | 2 years probation |
The Impact of “Harboring a Felon”
The sentencing of the four accomplices highlights the legal weight of “harboring and aiding” in violent crime cases. Under Wisconsin law, providing assistance to someone who has committed a felony—whether through providing transportation, materials, or concealment—can lead to significant prison time, even if the individual did not pull the trigger.
In this case, the purchase of a simple can of gasoline became the pivot point for the Williams women. By facilitating the destruction of the crime scene, they moved from passive observers to active participants in a criminal conspiracy to obstruct justice.
For the community and the family of Makai Neal, the conclusion of these trials provides a legal resolution, though it does little to erase the trauma of a 15-year-old’s life cut short over a dispute involving a firearm.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For official court records, please visit the Wisconsin Circuit Court website.
If you or a loved one has been affected by violence or is struggling with grief, support is available. You can contact the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 or visiting 988lifeline.org.
With the final sentencing of the Williams family, all primary defendants in the Makai Neal case have been processed through the judicial system. No further hearings are currently scheduled in relation to this specific case.
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