On a Sunday afternoon that was ironically marked as Milwaukee's "Ceasefire Sabbath," tragedy struck. Wilbert Lewis, a 31-year-old African-American man, lost his life in a burst of gunfire on May 18, 2014. The incident unfolded outside a liquor store located at the intersection of 11th Street and Atkinson Avenue, a corner that would become a scene of sorrow and a somber headline.
The shooting, which occurred around 1:40 p.m., was not a singular act of violence but a triple shooting that
left a trail of victims. Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene, his life abruptly ended on the city pavement. Alongside him, another man, 49-year-old Marvin Smith, was also fatally wounded and succumbed to his injuries after being transported to a local hospital. A third victim, a 48-year-old man, was also shot but survived the attack and was reported to be in stable condition.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the Milwaukee Police Department launched an investigation into the violent outburst that had claimed two lives. Detectives canvassed the area, searching for clues and seeking witnesses who could shed light on the events that led to the deadly confrontation. However, the initial reports offered little in the way of answers. Police had not yet determined a motive for the shooting and were actively searching for suspects.
As days turned into years, the case of Wilbert Lewis's death, along with that of Marvin Smith, faded from the headlines. There have been no subsequent news reports indicating that any arrests were ever made in connection with the triple shooting. The individuals responsible for the deaths of two men and the injury of another have not been publicly identified or brought to justice, leaving a painful void for the families and a lingering question mark in the city's records of unsolved homicides.
