Milwaukee man charged after allegedly killing victim in minivan, setting vehicle on fire

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly killing a man, leaving his body in a minivan and setting fire to the vehicle.

Daeshaun Graves, 20, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, two counts bail jumping, arson of property, and mutilating a corpse.

Prosecutors say Graves shot the victim, identified by the medical examiner's office as 31-year-old Quincy Smith, after getting into a fight on Aug. 4.

According to a criminal complaint, Graves had been spending time with the victim's "long-term on again, off again" girlfriend that morning. It says Graves was taking a nap in the third row of a minivan, and the woman was napping in the driver's seat of the minivan, parked near 84th and Bobolink, when Smith confronted them.

The complaint goes on to say a physical fight led to Graves pulling out a gun and firing at Smith, who fell back into the minivan. Graves then allegedly got into the driver's seat and drove northbound on 84th Street. 

On the morning of Aug. 5, an officer responded to a vehicle fire near 34th and Auer. The officer reported observing human remains inside the vehicle, described by a detective as a completely burned minivan. 

An autopsy ruled Smith's death a homicide, noting a single gunshot wound and third-degree burns to 95% of his body.

On Aug. 7, officers arrested Graves at an apartment on 91st Street. The complaint says Graves had burn injuries on his arms and was taken to an area hospital for treatment. A woman, who identified herself as Graves' girlfriend, told detectives that on Aug. 5, she overheard him on a phone call telling someone he had shot a man, drove off with the body in a car and then set the car on fire. She allegedly admitted to renting an Airbnb at the 91st Street address so she and Graves could hide out. 

Prosecutors say on Aug. 4 - about 12 hours before Smith's homicide - an officer was flagged down by an individual stating that their minivan was stolen off the street sometime the night before. 

Records show Graves was released from custody on bond on two separate felony cases at the time of this incident, including armed robbery, taking and driving a vehicle without the owner's consent, and a misdemeanor offense of hit-and-run. 

In court Wednesday, bond was set at $500,000. 

A preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 21.