In the early morning hours of July 25, 2023, Naquon Henry, a 22-year-old Black/African American male, was fatally shot in Milwaukee's Washington Park. The incident unfolded around 3:15 a.m. when police were alerted to the sound of gunfire in the park. Upon their arrival near the playground area, officers discovered Henry suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the shooting led police to 20-year-old Triston Brown.
The tragic events of that morning were rooted in a personal conflict. Brown had reportedly threatened a woman with whom he and Henry were both acquainted, stating that if he couldn't be with her, no one could. On the morning of the shooting, Brown allegedly lured Henry to Washington Park under false pretenses. An altercation ensued, during which Brown shot Henry multiple times.
Following the shooting, law enforcement initiated a search for the suspect. A witness provided a description of the shooter and the direction in which he fled. An officer spotted a person matching the description, who then attempted to run, carrying a firearm. Police established a perimeter and eventually located a bag containing a phone, ammunition, and identifiers belonging to Triston Brown. Brown was arrested later the same day.
Triston Brown was subsequently charged with first-degree intentional homicide and strangulation and suffocation. He initially pleaded not guilty but later entered a guilty plea to the homicide charge as part of a plea agreement, which led to the dismissal of the strangulation charge. Brown admitted to shooting Henry, claiming he "blacked out" during the incident. He was ultimately sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Naquon Henry.
