Police: Tattoo Artist Almost Robbed in Lieu of Services

Three Racine teenagers each face up to 20 years in prison after Mount Pleasant police say they tried to rob a local tattoo artist at gunpoint Thursday instead of paying for his services.

Shaquille Buckley, Larry Russell and Keaon Silas, all of whom are 18, were charged Friday in Racine County Circuit Court with one felony count each of attempted armed robbery, repeater. If convicted, they could each face up to 20 years in jail and/or up to $50,000 in fines.

Because all three are considered repeat offenders - each of them has one or more previous felony convictions - they could get extra time tacked onto any sentence a judge might give them.

According to their criminal complaints, Mount Pleasant police were called at 1:32 p.m. Thursday to the 2100 block of Mead Street for a report of an attempted armed robbery. When officers arrived, the victim said three men had tried to rob him at gunpoint because he wanted to be paid for giving one of them a tattoo.

Police say the victim gave Buckley a tattoo but he didn't have change for the $100 bill Buckley gave him as payment. The man told Buckley to go around the corner to a store for change but when Russell and Silas followed Buckley out of the man's home and past the store, the man got suspicious that Buckley wasn't going to pay for his ink.

The man followed the trio and asked Buckley for the money for the tattoo, but instead of paying the man, Buckley pulled a large, black handgun from his backpack and demanded all the man's money, the complaint reads. Instead of handing over any money though, the man told Buckley all his cash was at his house.

Buckley then told the man he had to go back home and get the money as well as turn over his watch and necklace or get shot. But, the man turned and ran home, locking his door and hiding in his basement. Police say Buckley, Russell and Silas scattered after the man escaped.

Officers recovered Buckley's backpack and found a bb gun inside that resembled a handgun. Buckley admitted he had the gun but denied any intention to rob the man, according to the complaints.

All three defendants will next be in court for their preliminary hearings on July 24. They remain in the Racine County Jail on cash bonds of $3,500 for Buckley and $1,000 each for Russell and Silas.