OSHKOSH, WI – In a chilling sequence of events that unfolded last Monday, a 32-year-old man calmly walked into the Oshkosh Police Department with a gun in hand and told officers he had killed his boyfriend, whose body was at home in their basement.
Authorities say Willie Rollins arrived at the station just after the incident, placed a handgun in the department’s security tray, and announced to the front desk officer that he had shot his partner. Police later confirmed the body of the victim—whose name has not been made public—was found in the basement of their shared residence, suffering from a critical head wound. He was taken to a hospital but did not survive.
Rollins, according to investigators, provided a detailed account of the hours leading up to the shooting. He recounted a years-long tumultuous relationship marked by frequent arguments and cycles of breakups and reconciliations, with both men continuing to cohabit the same Oshkosh home. The latest conflict, Rollins said, erupted over the internet bill after a disruption in service.
Detectives reported that Rollins told them he felt trapped and mistreated, alleging both emotional and financial abuse on the part of his boyfriend. He described feeling threatened with eviction and expressed fears of being excluded from his own home.
The mother of the victim spoke to authorities and painted a picture of long-standing tension between the two men. She claimed Rollins was often unemployed and relied on her son for support, while also claiming that he had made multiple threats against her son in the weeks leading up to the shooting.
Rollins told officers that his depression had deepened after the couple broke up officially about a year ago, though the pair remained under the same roof. He admitted to drug use, specifically methamphetamine, intensifying the volatility of their relationship. The woman alleged that her son’s struggles came to a head as he urged Rollins to help contribute financially.
Police say the fatal altercation began when the victim tried to fix the Wi-Fi router, sparking a heated argument about bill payments. The fight escalated to the basement, where Rollins claimed a physical struggle over the router ensued. Rollins said that in the midst of the argument, something “snapped,” prompting him to draw the firearm and shoot.
Rollins reportedly acknowledged during questioning that he could have left the situation instead of opening fire. He recounted that he shot at his boyfriend twice, missing the first time but fatally striking him with the second.
After the shooting, Rollins drove to the nearby police department and surrendered both himself and the weapon. Investigators secured the crime scene, finding the victim alive but unresponsive. Medical responders transported him to a local hospital, but doctors were unable to save him.
Rollins was taken into custody and is now charged with first-degree intentional homicide and possession of methamphetamine. His bond has been set at $750,000, and he is scheduled to make his next court appearance on January 22 for a preliminary hearing.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident as the community grapples with the aftermath of a domestic dispute that spiraled into tragedy.