Ava Allen, a 17-year-old from South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, tragically lost her life on December 29, 2022. Ava, along with her cousin Jaelen Yracheta, 18, was found shot to death inside a vehicle parked near Fifth Avenue and Bay Heights Road in South Milwaukee. The discovery was made by Jaelen's mother, who immediately alerted the authorities. Both teenagers were pronounced dead at the scene, and initial investigations suggested that they were targeted.
Ava was a senior at Franklin High
School with aspirations of continuing her education in college, while Jaelen was a student at Milwaukee Area Technical College, aiming to become a master electrician. The community was deeply affected by their deaths, and a GoFundMe page was set up to support their families, raising significant funds for their funeral and memorial expenses.
The investigation into their deaths quickly gained momentum. On January 10, 2023, South Milwaukee police, with assistance from the Milwaukee Police Department and the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, arrested a 22-year-old suspect named Brandon J. Randall. Randall was charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide and possession of a firearm by a felon. According to the criminal complaint, Randall had arranged to buy marijuana from the victims, and surveillance footage showed him entering the rear passenger side of the vehicle before multiple gunshots were heard. The motive behind the shooting remains under investigation, but it is clear that the victims were specifically targeted.
The case has seen significant legal developments. Randall's bail was set at $500,000, and he was scheduled to appear in court on January 25, 2023. The investigation continues as authorities seek to uncover more details about the circumstances leading to the tragic deaths of Ava Allen and Jaelen Yracheta.
: FOX6 News
: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
: WISN Channel 12
: WISN Channel 12
