In the early hours of May 28, 2023, a violent altercation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, claimed the life of 43-year-old Erick "KRA" Edwards, a Black/African American male. The incident unfolded around 12:15 a.m. near the intersection of 37th and Townsend Streets, shattering the predawn quiet and leaving a community in mourning. Another man, 42-year-old Tavaris Thomas, also lost his life in the shooting.
Accounts of the event indicate that an argument escalated into gunfire.
The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Curtis Piggee, was reportedly involved in a dispute with two women. When Erick Edwards intervened in an attempt to de-escalate the situation, Piggee allegedly produced a firearm. He is said to have fired a warning shot into the air before turning the weapon on Edwards and then shooting Thomas. Both wounded men were rushed to local hospitals, but their injuries proved to be fatal.
In the aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement officials apprehended Curtis Piggee. He was subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree reckless homicide and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. During his initial court appearance, a cash bond was set at $150,000 as the legal proceedings against him commenced.
Erick Edwards was remembered by loved ones as a dedicated father to his two daughters. He was an entrepreneur who had co-founded a roofing business with his twin brother and was known for his passion for his family, music, and his hometown of Milwaukee. His death, a tragic consequence of gun violence, has left a significant void in the lives of his family and friends. Funeral services were held on June 9, 2023, where those who knew and loved him gathered to pay their final respects.
