Desmontae Tavareion Burns, a 16-year-old Black/African American male from Milwaukee, was fatally shot on the night of August 23, 2025. Milwaukee police were called to the area of North 12th Street and West Concordia Avenue at approximately 9:14 p.m. Investigators said Burns had suffered a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene. Family members told local reporters that the shooting occurred inside a home, while other reporting described the location as a duplex near the intersection.
The circumstances that led to the gunfire were not immediately made public. Police initially announced that they were investigating the killing and searching for an unknown suspect. Within the following days, however, the investigation developed quickly. Milwaukee police confirmed that a 13-year-old boy had been taken into custody in connection with Burns' death. Authorities did not publicly explain what investigators believed happened before the shooting, what relationship existed between Burns and the younger person, or whether the shooting was believed to have been intentional, accidental, or the result of an argument.
Burns' death devastated his family. His sister, Imani Taylor, remembered him by his nickname, "TaeTae," while his aunt, Jennifer Young, described him as someone who naturally looked out for others and considered himself a big brother or older cousin to everyone around him. His family said his smile was something they would always remember. Burns was killed only five days before what would have been his 17th birthday, and relatives planned to honor him on that day.
The killing also prompted a wider response in the neighborhood. Milwaukee's Critical Response Team returned to the area after the shooting to speak with residents and provide support. Mayor Cavalier Johnson addressed the death publicly and raised concerns about young people gaining access to firearms, although he emphasized that he did not yet know all of the circumstances surrounding Burns' shooting.
The most significant development publicly reported in the investigation was the arrest of the 13-year-old. Milwaukee police confirmed the juvenile was in custody in connection with Burns' death, but authorities did not identify the child publicly or announce the specific evidence that led to the arrest. Contemporary reports also stated that police had not announced whether charges had been filed. Searches of later publicly available reporting did not reveal a publicly reported criminal trial, conviction, or sentencing connected to Burns' death. Because the person taken into custody was a juvenile, the public information surrounding the subsequent court proceedings, if any, has remained limited.
Burns' funeral arrangements were later announced by Paradise Memorial Funeral and Cremation Services. Services were held on September 11, 2025, followed by interment at Glen Oaks Cemetery. His death left his family mourning a young person they remembered for protecting and caring for the people around him, while the publicly reported investigation remained centered on the much younger person taken into custody shortly after the shooting.
