On New Year's Day 2023, the life of 17-year-old Steven Perkins was tragically cut short in a burst of gunfire at a Milwaukee restaurant. The male teenager was inside JJ's Fish and Chicken near 33rd and Villard when the fatal encounter unfolded, marking the city's first homicide of the year.
The incident began when an individual, later identified as 16-year-old Javontae Jones, entered the restaurant with a gun visible in his waistband. Shortly after, Perkins arrived with another person.
The situation escalated rapidly as Jones allegedly drew his weapon and opened fire on Perkins and his companion. In the ensuing chaos, another individual with Perkins reportedly returned fire. The exchange of numerous gunshots left Perkins with fatal injuries, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators were able to piece together the events thanks to security footage from inside the restaurant. Their investigation led them to a local children's hospital where multiple juveniles were being treated for gunshot wounds sustained in the incident. Among them was Javontae Jones. Police were able to connect him to the scene through fingerprint evidence.
Jones was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree intentional homicide. Later, the charges were amended to first-degree reckless homicide, to which Jones pleaded guilty. His cousin, Jeffrey Coleman, who was also 16 at the time, was also charged and pleaded guilty to the same offense. For his role in the death of Steven Perkins, Javontae Jones was sentenced to 14 years in prison followed by 10 years of extended supervision.
