On the night of May 18, 2024, 15-year-old Hispanic/Latino male Alejandro Sanchez was with his best friend, Monroe Weso, also 15, on Milwaukee's south side when their lives were tragically cut short. The two boys were near South 14th Street and West Halsey Avenue at approximately 10:30 p.m. when they were both shot. Neighbors reported hearing an argument among a group of teenagers, followed by the sound of multiple gunshots, after which several teens were seen fleeing the area.
Weso was pronounced dead at the scene, while Sanchez was rushed to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of the following morning.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly revealed a tragic story of a planned robbery gone wrong. According to authorities, a 13-year-old boy, who was later arrested, confessed that he and 15-year-old Christopher N. Scott had arranged to buy marijuana from Sanchez with the intention of robbing him. The 13-year-old told police that Scott brought a "ghost gun" he had stolen from his cousin to the meeting. During the attempted robbery, an altercation broke out, and Scott allegedly shot both Sanchez and Weso. Before he died, Sanchez was able to tell first responders that he knew who had shot him.
In the days following the shooting, Milwaukee police took the 13-year-old suspect into custody. He has since been charged with two counts of felony murder and one count of armed robbery. An arrest warrant has been issued for Christopher N. Scott, who faces two counts of first-degree reckless homicide and one count of armed robbery. Surveillance footage from the area reportedly captured the shooting, and Scott's own mother identified him in the video, according to the criminal complaint. As of the latest reports, Scott remains at large, and police are actively searching for him.
Alejandro, remembered by his family as "Alex," was described as an outgoing and creative person who loved sports and was deeply protective of his sister, Dalilah. His sister remembered him as someone who "always liked to look out for people and get creative." His family, devastated by the loss, said he knew how to light up a room with his big, happy smile and was a kind and thoughtful young man. In the wake of his death, his family set up a GoFundMe campaign to help with funeral expenses.
