Humberto Varela-Caballero, 30, was fatally shot on the night of October 30, 2017, near South 7th Street and West Becher Street in Milwaukee as he was bringing food home to his pregnant girlfriend. He suffered four gunshot wounds to the chest during an attempted armed robbery just outside his residence. Investigators linked the 9mm handgun that killed him to at least five other crime scenes through spent casings.

The inquiry uncovered a 20-day crime spree involving three men identified as Ivan Santiago, Marco Felipe, and Rodolfo Pantojas-Juarez. That string of violent offenses included home invasions, kidnappings, torture, and additional shootings. The weapon used in Varela-Caballero’s killing was later found at Santiago’s home. All three were arrested and faced multiple felony charges; Santiago was convicted of first-degree intentional homicide and other counts, and the others pleaded guilty to multiple charges. Reportedly the spree was tied to a debt Pantojas-Juarez owed to a Mexican cartel, and Pantojas-Juarez had previously worked for Varela-Caballero’s family and sent a condolence text after the killing.

Anyone who knew Humberto, his movements that night, or has information about the robbery and the 20-day spree is asked to come forward.