25-year-old man sentenced to 19 years in prison for killing Ronald 'Hollywood' Butler following a road rage incident in Milwaukee

Drake Bentley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Family and friends of Ronald Butler gather at the spot where his van came to rest after he was fatally shot on July 19. They held a vigil and walk to encourage witnesses to come forward with information. One of his three sisters, Victoria Butler, holds a picture of him as the group marches down Mill Road. Victoria Butler was a rap protegee of her brother who went by the moniker “Hollywood.” He operated a recording studio for several years helping Milwaukee artists with their demo tapes.

The man who shot and killed Ronald Butler in front of his children after engaging in road rage will spend 19 years behind bars.

Demetreon Caston-Townsend, 25, pleaded guilty to a homicide charge in January. Butler's sister, Romonia Butler-Foster, at the time said it was a relief to hear Caston-Townsend take responsibility for his actions.

"To hear him tell the judge 'I'm guilty," ... that 'I'm the one guilty of this crime' ... it was just a release," she said. "I needed to hear that." Butler-Foster could be not reached after Tuesday's sentencing hearing.

Romonia Butler-Foster, the older sister of Ronald "Hollywood" Butler, marches for to raise awareness and find answers to who killed her brother.
Romonia Butler-Foster, the older sister of Ronald "Hollywood" Butler, marches for to raise awareness and find answers to who killed her brother.

Butler, who also went by "Hollywood," was shot and killed following road rage with Caston-Townsend in the 8900 block of West Mill Road in July 2022. The shooting happened in front of four of Butler's children, at the time, ages 2, 9 and 10-year-old twins. Butler-Foster and other family members took to the streets of Milwaukee, participating in marches, seeking justice for Butler, 50.

On Tuesday, Caston-Townsend was sentenced to 19 years in prison and 10 years of extended supervision, according to online records. The court ordered $11,550 in restitution to Butler-Foster. Caston-Townsend's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to a criminal complaint, a Chevy Equinox ran the red light and almost collided with Butler's van; one of Butler's twin sons noted in the document the vehicle sped past and almost hit them. The son said their dad yelled at the car to stop speeding because there are kids in the car. That’s when the son said he heard a “pew” sound, then saw his dad was hurt and slumped over, the complaint said.

Journal Sentinel reporters La Risa R. Lynch and Chris Ramirez contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Man gets 19 years in prison for homicide after road rage in Milwaukee

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