'There's still no justice': Frustration mounts after charges dismissed in murder of popular barber

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Nearly two years after a barber was shot to death outside his business, a Milwaukee County judge this week dismissed the charges against two men about to go on trial for the murder of Yosef Timms.

The Milwaukee County District Attorney's office said in a statement it was because prosecutors could not locate a key witness with the trial set to begin Monday.

Timms, 32, was known to many people as simply, 'Jay Da Barber.' After working at Gee's Clippers, Timms opened his own barbershop near the corner of Holton St. and Center St.

According to court records, witnesses told police Timms got into a fight with two men outside the barbershop on July 1, 2021. A friend of Timms' told CBS 58 at the time the violence stemmed from a dispute over the NBA 2K video game.

The criminal complaint included the accounts of three witnesses. Two of those witnesses told police both of the men fighting Timms pulled out guns and shot Timms.

Two weeks after the shooting, prosecutors charged 29-year-old Don Corleone Robinson and 24-year-old Dawonyae Robinson with first-degree intentional homicide.

One of the witnesses in the 2021 records said he saw two men he knew as "Don" and "Fatty" fighting with the victim before shooting him. The other two witnesses said, after the shooting, they saw two men speed away in a silver or gray Acura with black stripes. 

Prosecutors said a pair of police officers were in the area when they heard a possible shooting. The officers' body cameras allegedly recorded video of a silver Acura SUV with black stripes speeding past the officers.

Records state police were able to eventually track down and seize the vehicle, which was registered to Dawonyae Robinson. Investigators said they lifted a palmprint from outside the vehicle that traced back to Don C. Robinson. 

On Monday, with a jury trial scheduled to start, the court granted a defense motion to dismiss the charges. Prosecutors said they couldn't find a critical witness.

In a statement, Chief Deputy District Attorney Kent Lovern said prosecutors would continue looking for the witness and, if they find that person, will refile charges against the suspects.

"If the critical missing witness is located, our office intends to resume the prosecution of this case," Lovern said in an email. "Open homicide investigations always remain among the highest priorities for law enforcement officials so I am confident the appropriate resources will be expended to locate this witness."

CBS 58 left multiple messages Wednesday for Jeffery W. Jensen, who is listed in court records as Don C. Robinson's current attorney. Jensen did not respond to those messages as of Wednesday evening.

At Gee's Clippers Wednesday afternoon, Christian Schmidt, who worked with Timms at Gee's for two years, said he was frustrated to learn charges had been dismissed against his friend's suspected killers.

"I don't know whether these dudes did it or not," Schmidt said. "But witnesses say they did it, so where's the people at?"

Schmidt called on the key witness, wherever they might be, to come forward for the sake of Timms, who died before the birth of his son.

"The fact of the matter is he's still gone. There's still no justice," Schmidt said. "Knowing that he lost his life, like, give him a chance to rest in peace. That's all I can say."

"Always a fan of each other's work"

Schmidt said while he only worked alongside Timms for two years, they remained in touch for several years after Schmidt left to work at a second Gee's location. 

Schmidt said he was drawn to the professionalism and passion Timms displayed on the job.

"The way he approached being a barber, he wanted to be a barber. He loved being a barber," Schmidt said. "Just had that presence about him, where you want to make people happy. He got joy out of seeing his work on people."

Schmidt said he was supportive of Timms' effort to open his own barbershop, Fade Lounge. 

"We're always a fan of each other's work," Schmidt said. "We always want to uplift and promote each other, especially because it's a competitive market, but it's also an open market as well."

Schmidt added that while he understood prosecutors' desire to present the best possible case, he was frustrated because the decision meant even more time would pass without anyone being accountable for Timms' death.

"You allow individuals, potentially, who did this, and they're out here free," he said. "They're out here living their life."