Milwaukee man charged in a hit-and-run that killed two brothers on the city’s south side

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – A Milwaukee man is now charged in the hit-and-run that killed two brothers on the city’s south side Sunday morning, May 5.

Luis Perez-Garcia, 33, is charged with two counts of hit-and-run, resulting in death, and one count of knowingly operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license, resulting in death.

Officers responded to the scene around 8 p.m^Th and Lincoln around 2:45 a.m. and found both victims dead. They were identified by the Milwaukee County Coroner’s Office as 41-year-old Ausberto Pascual Gutierrez Ponce and 39-year-old Michael Gutierrez.

According to a criminal complaint, investigators spoke with a witness who said she was at a bar when one of the victims asked her for a ride home. She said she and the man drove together until 20^Th and Lincoln, where she double-parked in the bike path to let him out.

As he got out and walked around the front of her car to the driver’s side, the complaint says she saw the victim’s brother walk up to talk to him. The witness said as she began to open the driver’s door to get out, a vehicle traveling eastbound on W. Lincoln Avenue at a high rate of speed struck both victims and the woman’s car before driving off.

Officers took Perez-Garcia into custody after reviewing surveillance video and finding debris from the attacking vehicle that matched a 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse. Police discovered a traverse near Perez-Garcia’s home with heavy damage.

Investigators interviewed Perez-Garcia, who reportedly admitted causing the collision and leaving the scene. The complaint says he told investigators that shortly before the incident he was at a bar where he drank eight 12-ounce cans of Modelo and was “excited.”

Officers reviewed Wisconsin Department of Transportation records that showed Perez-Garcia was never issued a driver’s license.

A first court date was scheduled for May 9th.