Noble A. Walton, a 41-year-old Black man from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, lost his life following a shooting on the night of Saturday, June 27, 2015. At approximately 11:20 p.m., gunfire erupted near North 57th Street and West Philip Place on Milwaukee’s northwest side. Walton was discovered suffering from gunshot wounds in an alley near 3311 North 57th Street.
The circumstances leading up to the shooting were unclear, leaving investigators with questions about what had happened in the moments before he was fatally wounded.
Witnesses in the neighborhood reported hearing gunshots shortly before Walton was discovered. At least one witness reported finding him unconscious in the alley. Emergency personnel transported Walton to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries. What began as a late-night shooting investigation became another homicide case for the Milwaukee Police Department.
One potentially important detail emerged from witness accounts. Several people reported hearing gunfire and seeing a white sport utility vehicle leaving the area around the time of the shooting. The vehicle became a significant detail in the publicly released information about Walton's death, although authorities did not disclose whether its occupants were directly involved or had witnessed the incident. Investigators did not publicly identify the vehicle's make, model, license plate number, or occupants.
Walton's death occurred during a particularly violent weekend in Milwaukee. Police investigated four separate shootings on June 27, including another fatal shooting earlier that evening near North 63rd Street and West Hope Avenue. Authorities indicated that the incidents were unrelated. Unlike some of the other shootings that weekend, investigators did not release information establishing what might have motivated the attack on Walton. There was no publicly confirmed account of an argument, robbery, personal dispute, or other confrontation preceding the gunfire.
As the investigation continued, detectives sought information that might help identify the person or people responsible. However, the available public reports did not identify a suspect, establish a motive, or document an arrest connected to Walton's killing. No verified reports of criminal charges, court proceedings, or convictions associated with his death could be located.
On January 13, 2020, more than four years after the shooting, Walton's case was featured by the Milwaukee Police Department's Cold Case Unit. The department renewed its appeal for information, highlighting the circumstances of the shooting and the witnesses' description of a white SUV leaving the area. Investigators encouraged anyone with knowledge of the incident to contact detectives at 414-935-7360.
More than a decade after that June night, Walton's homicide remains without a publicly documented resolution. The identity of the person who fired the fatal shots, the reason he was targeted, and the possible connection between the shooting and the white SUV have not been publicly established. His case remains a reminder of the unanswered questions surrounding violent deaths in Milwaukee and the importance of witnesses who may hold information capable of bringing those responsible to justice.
