A Milwaukee County judge endorsed by County Executive David Crowley has ordered a man who opened fire inside a Milwaukee police station lobby in 2022 released less than four years into his 30-year commitment to a mental health facility.
Judge Nidhi Kashyap ruled Thursday that Darreon Parker-Bell, 28, is a candidate for conditional release and ordered the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and Wisconsin Community Services to prepare a plan for treatment and services he would receive in the community. A status conference on his release is set for Dec. 7.
Parker-Bell walked into Milwaukee Police District 5 on Feb. 25, 2022 with a semiautomatic handgun, spoke briefly with an officer about the in-custody death of a friend, then and then opened fire. Prosecutors said one round went through a non-bullet-resistant partition inches from a Milwaukee Police officer’s head. Three civilians and police employees were in the lobby at the time.
Officers returned fire. Parker-Bell took off while still armed and was shot after he ignored commands to drop the gun and pointed it toward officers. No officer or civilian was hit. According to the criminal complaint, Parker-Bell told investigators he was not well mentally because of hardships in his life and had hoped police would return fire and end his life.
In 2023 he pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon under a not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect plea. Four related counts were dismissed but read into the record.
Kashyap found he lacked the ability to appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions and, in June 2023, committed him to the Department of Health Services for 30 years. His attorney sought conditional release about two years ago. Court records show he has been evaluated by psychologists several times since.
The officer behind the counter that day was Steve Holmblad, then weeks from retirement after 21 years on the job. On Thursday, he took to social media to blast the decision to release Parker-Bell.
As someone who served in law enforcement, this is difficult to accept. Knowing what happened at District Five Station, it is hard not to question how a decision like this is reached after such a short time.
Former Milwaukee Police officer Steven Holmblad
“Today was a sad day,” he said. “I was in court today when a judge ordered the conditional release of an individual who entered District Five Station and shot at police officers. He was found to be criminally insane and committed by court order to a facility for the criminally insane, with a stated period of 30 years. Today, only four years later, the court ordered his conditional release.
“The doctors and the judge determined that his conditional release was appropriate and that he could be released safely into the community. As someone who served in law enforcement, this is difficult to accept. Knowing what happened at District Five Station, it is hard not to question how a decision like this is reached after such a short time.”
Milwaukee Police Association President Alexander Ayala called the finding outrageous.
“The Milwaukee Police Association is outraged by today’s decision by Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Nidhi Kashyap finding Darreon Parker-Bell a candidate for conditional release,” he said on the MPA’s Facebook page. “The members of the Milwaukee Police Association have a simple question: How can someone who walked into a police station and opened fire, endangering officers and innocent citizens, already be considered for release back into the community after three years?
“Our officers remember February 25, 2022, and the people who were inside District 5 that afternoon remember it. They should not have to wonder how someone committed to state custody for 30 years after such an extraordinarily violent act can be considered for conditional release just a few years later. Mental illness deserves treatment. Public safety also matters.”
Ayala pledged that the MPA would be filing statements of opposition to Parker-Bell’s release and “will be watching closely as the Department of Health Services develops the release plan ordered by the court.”
The Milwaukee Police Association is outraged by today’s decision by Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Nidhi Kashyap finding Darreon Parker-Bell a candidate for conditional release
MPA President Alex Ayala
Kashyap ran unopposed for Milwaukee County Circuit Court Branch 25 in the April 5, 2022, election and took office Aug. 1, 2022. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley strongly endorsed her in a statement she posted on her official campaign website.
“With her experience working with victims of domestic violence, families, and incarcerated people, Nidhi Kashyap has a well-rounded understanding of our system, and how we must improve,” he said. “She will make an excellent Judge.”
