Angelo Young was an 18-year-old African American man from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, whose promising future was cut short by a fatal shooting during an apparent robbery on the night of July 21, 2015. A recent graduate of Rufus King High School, Angelo had plans to continue his education at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and had also expressed interest in joining the United States Air Force.
Family members described him as a kindhearted, hardworking young man who enjoyed school, loved basketball, and had a sense of humor that endeared him to those around him. He had recently completed an important milestone in his life and was looking forward to the opportunities ahead.
At approximately 11:40 p.m. on July 21, Angelo was walking home from work when he was confronted near the intersection of East Garfield Avenue and North Palmer Street in Milwaukee. He was less than a block from his residence when the encounter turned violent. Investigators believed multiple individuals attempted to rob him before he was shot. Milwaukee police responded to a 911 call and discovered Angelo suffering from a serious gunshot wound in the 200 block of East Garfield Avenue. He was transported to a hospital, where he died. Although some records list July 21 as his date of death, initial news reports stated that he died at the hospital on July 22.
Angelo's family believed he had gotten off a bus and was walking the final stretch toward home when the robbery occurred. His cousin, Donna Lawrence, expressed disbelief that someone would attack him when he was so close to reaching safety. The sudden loss devastated his loved ones, particularly because Angelo had no known involvement in criminal activity and was focused on building a successful future. His stepfather, Demetrius Rice, spoke publicly about the family's grief and the difficulty of accepting that someone with so much potential had been killed in an apparently random act of violence.
As detectives investigated the shooting, they identified several pieces of evidence that they hoped would lead them to those responsible. One significant item was Angelo's missing backpack, which investigators believed had been stolen during the robbery. The backpack was described as a distinctive black, gray, and silver Element-brand bag. Authorities released photographs of a similar backpack in September 2015, hoping someone might recognize it. Investigators believed the stolen property could have included an iPhone 6 with earbuds, silver headphones, and an Educators Credit Union card. The backpack and its contents had not been recovered when police publicly discussed the evidence.
Investigators also developed information about a possible suspect vehicle. Surveillance footage recorded a dark-colored Chevrolet Suburban, believed to be a model manufactured between 1997 and 1999, traveling several blocks from the shooting location. The vehicle reportedly made an unusually loud engine or exhaust noise, a characteristic detectives hoped witnesses might remember. Milwaukee Police Detective Matthew Gadzalinski later explained that investigators believed multiple individuals were involved in the attempted robbery. Police appealed to anyone who had seen the vehicle, encountered the stolen backpack, or possessed information about the shooting to contact authorities.
Despite these investigative leads, the case remained unresolved during the months following Angelo's death. On July 23, 2015, Milwaukee Alderwoman Milele Coggs publicly called for community assistance in solving his homicide and another recent killing involving a teenager. She emphasized the devastating impact of the violence on the victims' families and confirmed that police had no one in custody in either investigation at that time. Detectives continued searching for witnesses and information that could identify the individuals responsible for Angelo's killing.
The following year, Angelo's family increased its efforts to obtain justice. In August 2016, relatives announced a reward of more than $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of his killer. Detective Gadzalinski again drew public attention to the distinctive backpack and suspected getaway vehicle, expressing hope that someone in the community would come forward. Police believed that individuals might possess information about the crime but had not yet shared it with investigators. At that point, no arrests had been made, and the investigation was described as having gone cold.
While the search for those responsible continued, Angelo's family worked to preserve his memory. On July 30, 2016, relatives and community members gathered at the St. Marcus Lutheran School gymnasium for a basketball event honoring Angelo and other victims of violence. His older brother, Garry Hurn, spoke about the importance of holding those responsible accountable. The gathering also served as an opportunity to raise money for the reward fund and encourage residents to help prevent similar tragedies. Rufus King High School subsequently established an annual scholarship in Angelo's honor, providing a lasting connection between his memory and the educational opportunities he had valued.
His mother, Angel Young, and other loved ones continued organizing the annual Stop the Violence Basketball Tournament. By July 2019, the event was in its fourth year and had grown into a community gathering featuring basketball, children's activities, raffles, contests, and other family-oriented events. Organizers sought to celebrate Angelo's life while raising awareness about gun violence and supporting families who had experienced similar losses. Reports published in 2019 continued to describe his murder as a case in which justice had not been served.
Available public reporting has not established the identities of the individuals who robbed and fatally shot Angelo. No verified reports were located documenting arrests, criminal charges, trials, or convictions directly connected to his killing. The investigation's publicly identified leads included the suspected Chevrolet Suburban, the stolen backpack and personal belongings, and the possibility that multiple perpetrators participated in the robbery. Angelo's death remains a painful loss for his family and the Milwaukee community, particularly because he was returning home from work and was only a short distance from safety when his life ended. His loved ones have continued honoring his memory through education, basketball, and community outreach while hoping that someone with knowledge of the crime will provide the information needed to bring those responsible to justice.
