Lakim D. Herbert, a 20-year-old African-American man from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, lost his life to gun violence on the evening of Saturday, November 28, 2015. Shortly after 8:30 p.m., gunfire erupted near North 35th Street and West Florist Avenue, in the 3400 block of West Florist Avenue on Milwaukee's north side. Herbert suffered fatal gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
His death came during a particularly violent Thanksgiving holiday weekend in Milwaukee, when several families were left grieving loved ones killed in separate shootings.
Milwaukee police responded to the shooting and began investigating the circumstances surrounding Herbert's death. Authorities confirmed his identity and established that the shooting occurred in the vicinity of 35th Street and Florist Avenue. However, the initial police statements provided few details about what happened immediately before the gunfire. Investigators did not publicly explain whether Herbert had been approached by someone, whether an argument or confrontation preceded the shooting, or whether the attack was targeted. Police were working to establish a motive and identify whoever was responsible. No description of a suspected gunman, getaway vehicle, or potential witnesses was included in the initial public reports.
Herbert's death was one of three fatal shootings that occurred in Milwaukee on November 28. Earlier that afternoon, Tony Vance was shot while driving near North Sherman Boulevard and West Bernhard Place. His vehicle subsequently struck a light pole. Later that evening, another shooting near North 28th Street and West Wells Street claimed the life of Toni Phillips and left another person injured. Herbert was killed a short time after the Wells Street shooting. The three separate incidents contributed to an alarming escalation of violence across the city. By the end of that holiday weekend, Milwaukee had recorded approximately 137 homicides for the year, compared with 75 at the same point in 2014. Although the shootings occurred within hours of one another, authorities did not publicly establish a connection between Herbert's killing and the other deaths.
Away from the circumstances of his death, Herbert was remembered as a young person whose warmth, kindness, and positive attitude made a lasting impression on those around him. Born to Loren Herbert and Erin Norton, he was part of a large extended family that included his brother Jarred, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and numerous friends. His family described someone who loved those closest to him and consistently tried to find the positive side of life. His smile and affection for others became recurring themes in the memories shared after his death.
Herbert had also attended the Art Institute, where a former instructor, Cheryl Coan, remembered him as a bright and encouraging presence in classrooms and hallways. She recalled his ability to lift people's spirits, even on difficult days, and described how deeply his absence was felt by students, faculty, and school administrators. Others who knew Herbert remembered him as respectful, responsible, caring, and mature. A former neighbor recalled how focused he was and the close relationship he shared with his father. Friends from his school years remembered his cheerful personality, his affection for others, and his enthusiasm for the Japanese animated series Naruto. These recollections portrayed a young person with meaningful relationships and aspirations that were abruptly interrupted by violence.
As Herbert's family struggled with the loss, funeral arrangements were made through Peace of Mind Funeral and Cremation Services in Milwaukee. A visitation was scheduled for Sunday, December 6, 2015. Family members, friends, former classmates, neighbors, and educators shared condolences and memories, expressing their disbelief that his life had ended so suddenly. The messages reflected not only grief but also the influence Herbert had on people who encountered him at school, at work, and throughout his community.
Despite the immediate homicide investigation, publicly available reporting provides little information about subsequent developments. Milwaukee police initially acknowledged that they were seeking a motive and suspects, but no individual was publicly identified as responsible in the news coverage located. No verified reports were found documenting an arrest, criminal charges, a trial, or a conviction specifically connected to Herbert's killing. The absence of such reporting does not establish that investigators made no progress, but it leaves the ultimate outcome of the criminal investigation unclear.
For Herbert's loved ones, the tragedy extended far beyond the location where the shooting occurred. What began as an ordinary Saturday during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend ended with the loss of a cherished family member, friend, and student. While the available accounts establish when and where he was killed, they leave unanswered the circumstances that brought him into the path of gunfire and the identity of the person responsible. His family and friends continued to remember him through the kindness he showed, the happiness he brought to others, and the life he should have had the opportunity to continue living.
