Davion Patterson was a 15-year-old Black male and a sophomore at Milwaukee Excellence Charter School. His mother, Tiera Carter, remembered him as a boy who hated hugs but would receive them from her anyway. She looked forward to seeing him graduate, get married, and prosper as a man, but that future was stolen. "I will never get the opportunity because it was taken from him for something so stupid," she said.
On the night of March 20, 2023, a dispute between two women brought a group
together for a planned fight near 14th Street and Concordia Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. According to Davion's family, he and his sister went to help their godsisters, and Davion was trying to act as a peacemaker. The fight itself was brief, lasting only about ten seconds before the two women fell. At that moment, around 11:30 p.m., gunfire erupted. Witnesses described a gunman recklessly firing into the crowd. Davion was struck by numerous gunshots and was pronounced dead at the scene. Five young women, ranging in age from 18 to 22, were also wounded but survived their injuries. One of them was Davion's older sister.
Investigators arrived to find a chaotic scene with approximately 30 spent casings, which indicated the gunfire likely came from two separate weapons. Based on statements from witnesses and victims, who were able to identify a shooter from a photo lineup, police quickly focused their investigation.
The day after the shooting, police arrested Romello Littlejohn. Littlejohn, who was 16 years old when charged, initially told investigators he had been home all night. His story changed several times under questioning. He eventually admitted to being at the fight, then to having a gun but not shooting it, and finally to firing a .40 caliber handgun, but he claimed he had only shot it "into the air."
Littlejohn was charged with first-degree reckless homicide for Davion Patterson's death, along with five other felonies related to the women who were injured. In December 2025, a jury found him guilty of all six charges: first-degree reckless homicide, first-degree recklessly endangering safety, and four counts of first-degree reckless injury.
In January 2026, a judge sentenced Romello Littlejohn to 35 years in prison, which will be followed by 15 years of extended supervision. He was also ordered to pay over $5,000 in restitution. That same month, Littlejohn filed a notice of intent to pursue post-conviction relief.
