A bright spring evening in Milwaukee turned tragic on May 14, 2007, marking the untimely death of 4-year-old African-American Jasmine Owens. Known affectionately as "Juicy" by her loved ones, Jasmine was innocently playing, skipping rope outside a home in the 2800 block of North 29th Street, when the sounds of gunfire shattered the neighborhood's peace at approximately 8:20 p.m.
A dark-colored SUV was seen driving by as shots were fired, one of which tragically struck the young girl in the head. She was rushed to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin but sadly succumbed to her injuries.
The shooting was a drive-by, and it was later determined that Jasmine was not the intended victim. A 26-year-old man, who was the actual target of the shooters, was also struck by a bullet in the leg but survived the attack. The senseless act of violence that claimed the life of a child sent ripples of grief and outrage throughout the Milwaukee community. Family and friends remembered Jasmine as a "nice, little bundle of joy" who loved to cook, clean, and was a cherished part of their lives. Her death underscored the devastating impact of gun violence on innocent lives.
In the wake of the tragedy, Jasmine's mother, Alicia Owens, made a heartfelt plea for the violence to end, expressing the immense pain of losing her daughter who was simply enjoying a beautiful day. The community mourned alongside the family, with many attending her funeral to pay their respects. Despite the public outcry and police investigation that followed the shooting, there have been no publicly available reports detailing any arrests or the identification of any suspects in the years since Jasmine's death. The case remains a painful and unresolved chapter for her family and the city of Milwaukee.
