In the early morning hours of Christmas Eve, December 24, 2023, a dispute in a food truck line in downtown Appleton, Wisconsin, turned fatal, ending the life of 22-year-old Elijah D. Dodson, a Black/African American male from Milwaukee. The incident occurred around 2:00 a.m. in the 100 block of South Walnut Street. An argument reportedly began over someone cutting in line, escalating into a physical altercation that culminated in Dodson being shot.
First responders found him with a gunshot wound and transported him to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the shooting led authorities to identify a suspect. Weeks after the fatal shooting, Elliot Campbell, a 21-year-old from Racine, was arrested in connection with Dodson's death. Campbell was subsequently charged with first-degree intentional homicide. Prosecutors allege that he was the individual who shot Dodson following the altercation near the food truck. Witnesses at the scene reportedly identified Campbell as the shooter.
Following his arrest, Campbell was held at the Outagamie County Jail on a $1 million cash bond. He has since pleaded not guilty to the charge of first-degree intentional homicide. The case is set to proceed through the court system, with a status hearing scheduled in the months following his plea. In the wake of the violent incident, the Appleton Police Department increased patrols in the downtown area to reassure the community and address concerns about safety.
