GREEN BAY – A Green Bay man was convicted Tuesday of killing two relatives then stabbing a police officer in the face after a police chase in 2020.
Oscar Lemus-Franco, 32, pleaded no contest Tuesday to two charges of first-degree intentional homicide with use of a dangerous weapon and one charge of first-degree reckless injury with use of a dangerous weapon.
The plea canceled a two-week trial that was set to begin in December. A three-day trial, scheduled to begin May 1, will determine whether Lemus-Franco is criminally responsible for the homicides. If he is found responsible, he will face life in prison. If not, he will be committed to a mental health facility.
At about 8:30 p.m. Sept. 28, 2020, police were dispatched to an apartment building on the 500 block of Clement Street, according to a criminal complaint. Two men were dead from gunshot wounds — one in the hallway, and one in the kitchen of an upstairs apartment.
The men killed were Jaime Lemus, 30, and Gerson Alvarez-Franco, 37.
Lemus-Franco’s sister told police their mother believed Lemus-Franco killed the two family members. The sister said Lemus-Franco “had been making statements that he talks to God and God tells him to kill people and that he won’t get in trouble for it,” the complaint says.
Lemus-Franco’s mother also identified a gun found on scene as belonging to Lemus-Franco. In a search of the apartment where Lemus-Franco lived with his mother, investigators found clothes soaking in a bathtub.
At about 5:30 a.m. the next day, Sept. 29, 2020, police located Lemus-Franco driving near his home. When an officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, Lemus-Franco accelerated and a car chase ensued. Speeds reached up to 100 miles per hour, according to the complaint.
The vehicle pursuit continued until Lemus-Franco’s car crashed into a median at North Broadway and Dousman Street, according to the complaint. Lemus-Franco then got out of the car and officers chased him on foot.
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During the chase, Lemus-Franco ran at an officer with a knife. One officer wrote in the complaint that he drew his pistol but did not shoot due to Lemus-Franco’s proximity to the other officer.
Officers were finally able to stop Lemus-Franco with Tasers. They took him into custody.
Police then realized the officer Lemus-Franco had swung at with a knife had been stabbed in the face and was “bleeding profusely,” the complaint says. The officer was treated for a wound that extended from his right eye, across his face, through his lips and down to his collarbone. He received stitches and medical treatment from a plastic surgeon, according to the complaint.
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Another officer received medical treatment for a head and neck injury sustained in the incident. Lemus-Franco was treated for self-inflicted wounds to his wrists.
Throughout the case, Lemus-Franco has had multiple competency evaluations to determine he is capable of understanding court proceedings. He pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect in 2021.
Kelli Arseneau can be reached at 920-213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @ArseneauKelli.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Green Bay man convicted of killing two relatives in 2020