Waukesha, WI — A 17-year-old boy from Wisconsin is facing murder charges after his uncle — who was also his roommate — died from injuries sustained during a violent altercation earlier this year, police say.
Ronnie Fuentez, 17, was initially charged with battery in connection with the February incident, but authorities have since upgraded the charges to murder after the victim passed away in late May.
According to a criminal complaint, officers were called to Waukesha Memorial Hospital on February 5 for a report of a domestic violence attack that had occurred four days earlier. There, they spoke with the victim, who has not been publicly identified. The man was conscious but struggled to speak due to what was later diagnosed as internal bleeding in his brain.
The victim told officers that on the night of February 1, he and Fuentez got into an argument after the teen was told he couldn’t have a friend sleep over at the home they shared. The victim asked Fuentez to tell the friend to leave, which reportedly caused the teen to become enraged and start yelling.
The argument turned physical, with Fuentez allegedly punching his uncle repeatedly in the head, even after the man tried to defend himself. Fuentez reportedly shouted profanities during the assault before leaving the residence. He returned the next morning, but it remains unclear what happened to the friend involved.
The victim did not immediately seek medical attention, but two days later began experiencing migraines. Though over-the-counter medication provided temporary relief, his condition worsened. On February 5, during a phone call with his mother, he struggled to speak in complete sentences, prompting her to rush him to the hospital. There, doctors discovered a serious brain bleed, and he was placed in intensive care.
Authorities say Fuentez made incriminating statements to his uncle after the fight, including, “I’ve wanted to [expletive] you up since the first day I moved in.”
At the time of the alleged assault, Fuentez was out on bond for an unrelated offense. Police say he now also faces a charge of misdemeanor bail jumping for violating the terms of his release.
The victim succumbed to his injuries in late May, leading prosecutors to upgrade the charges against Fuentez to murder.
Fuentez is scheduled to appear in Waukesha County court on Saturday.
