Prosecutors in Manitowoc County have released a man from custody who had been accused of fatally shooting his younger brother.
65-year-old Robert Sullivan of Manitowoc was arrested Sunday and faced a charge of first degree intentional homicide for allegedly shooting his 62-year-old brother Carey Sullivan. Sullivan was released following a bail hearing Tuesday and the homicide charge has been dropped.
Manitowoc Police Chief Tony Dick says a lot has happened in the 48 hours since the shooting and a decision was made to release Sullivan from custody after a meeting with the district attorney. He says police continue to investigate information about a self-defense claim and “the deceased’s history of aggressive and threatening behavior.”
AUDIO: Chief Tony Dick (:15)
The brothers had been living together in a house that belonged to their deceased parents. Police say there had been an ongoing dispute between the two over finances and the estate. The older brother called 911 on Sunday morning to report the shooting and police recovered a 20-gauge shotgun from the scene. Dick says proper protocols were followed in arresting Sullivan following the incident.
There were no stipulations tied to Sullivan’s release, although Chief Dick says he remains a part of their ongoing investigation. Dick says police and prosecutors are also still waiting on a final report from the coroner’s office as well.
Brian Norton, WOMT
