In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the evening of May 1, 2024, a young Black/African American male named Levaughn James Morris, age 17, lost his life in a residence near 28th and Concordia. The incident, which occurred at approximately 10:15 p.m., was not the result of a random act of violence by strangers, but a tragic event that unfolded among friends.
Inside the home, Levaughn was with his 18-year-old friend, Jovon Young-Smith, and another individual.
According to what Young-Smith later told investigators, the three were together when Levaughn was in a bedroom "playing with a firearm." Young-Smith entered the room, asked for the weapon, and then began to "play" with it himself. In a fateful moment, he pointed the gun directly at Levaughn and pulled the trigger. He would later claim he was unaware the gun was loaded and had not checked it.
Initially, a different story was presented to the police. Young-Smith and the other friend claimed that unknown individuals had entered the house and shot Levaughn. However, this account did not hold. As the investigation progressed, Young-Smith’s story changed, leading to his arrest. He was subsequently charged with second-degree reckless homicide.
The legal process concluded with Jovon Young-Smith pleading guilty to the charge. In October 2024, the now 19-year-old was sentenced to 10 months in jail for his role in the fatal shooting of his friend. The case highlights a devastating consequence of casual handling of a deadly weapon, ending one teenage life and forever altering another.
