Bradley Garrett

Bradley Garrett, known to some as “Boo,” was remembered by those who knew him as a funny, chill, nice, and helpful young man. At 24 years old, the African-American man had his life ahead of him, a life that was tragically and violently ended on a Sunday evening in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His death left a void in his community and became a somber entry in what was a particularly violent year for the city.

On the evening of May 3, 2015, just after 8:30 p.m., Bradley was sitting inside a vehicle in the Sherman Park neighborhood, near the intersection of North 44th Street and West Wright Street. It was there that he was fatally shot. When officers from the Milwaukee Police Department arrived at the scene, they found Bradley and immediately began an investigation. From the outset, investigators stated that they did not believe the shooting was a random act of violence. Instead, they believed Bradley had been specifically targeted, though a motive for the attack was not made public.

In the immediate aftermath, police announced they were looking for two people who they believed might have more information about the incident. The investigation was launched during a period of escalating violence in Milwaukee. The year 2015 saw a significant spike in homicides, with the city experiencing 145 murders, a stark increase from the 86 recorded in the previous year. This surge in violence put a strain on law enforcement and left many communities, including the one where Bradley was killed, reeling from the frequent loss of life.

The personal impact of Bradley’s death rippled through the community and even reached the floor of the Wisconsin State Senate. Just days after the shooting, State Senator Nikiya Harris Dodd, whose district included the area where the homicide occurred, spoke about the recent wave of violence. She asked the Senate to adjourn in honor of the many victims, and in her emotional address, she revealed a personal connection to this specific tragedy, noting that Bradley Garrett was a "close family friend of [her] son." Her words highlighted the intimate and devastating reality of the city's homicide statistics, where each number represents a person deeply connected to a network of family and friends.

Despite the initial belief that Bradley was targeted and the search for persons of interest, his case grew cold. There have been no public announcements from the Milwaukee Police Department regarding any arrests, suspects, or significant breakthroughs in the years since the shooting. The two individuals sought for questioning were never publicly identified, and the specific circumstances that led to the fatal gunfire in the vehicle that night remain unknown.

As of the latest available information, the homicide of Bradley Garrett remains unsolved. His name is listed among the many unresolved cases that leave families searching for answers and justice. The investigation into who killed him and why is presumably still open but inactive, one of many cold cases from a year that left deep scars on the city of Milwaukee. The loss of the young man remembered for his easygoing and kind nature remains a painful, unanswered question for his loved ones and his community.