Murder cases proceed in deaths of two area men

Two persons are now in custody for an apparent drug-related shooting this summer in Sparta. 

Last week, a Milwaukee woman, Damara Skenandore-Medina, was arrested for the June death of Anthony Koopman. 

Then on Monday, a man was captured in Waukesha County for his apparent role in Koopman’s murder. 

The new suspect has not been named publicly yet.

Koopman was shot on June 11th at an intersection near downtown Sparta, and died later at a hospital. 

A third person is being sought for the murder.  

Meanwhile, investigators say an Onalaska man who was killed last year may have been stabbed to death over a joke about a bicycle. 

Two people arrested last week for the 2019 murder of Ryan Sorensen of Onalaska are now charged with being a party to felony murder. 

Angel Monge-Mathuzima and Shirley Monge apparently rode their bicycles past Sorensen and two friends in West Allis back in September, and Sorensen joked that he wanted the bikes. 

Shirley Monge reportedly became angry, and a fight broke out which ended with Sorensen being stabbed and the couple riding away on their bikes. 

The two suspects face up to 12 years in prison, if they’re convicted.