In the early hours of a Tuesday morning, the life of 17-year-old Patrick Rtize Martin, a Black male, was tragically cut short in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On November 1, 2022, at approximately 1:23 a.m., Patrick was fatally wounded in a shooting at a gas station located near the intersection of 7th Street and Keefe Avenue. He was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The events leading to the fatal shooting began with a verbal altercation
at the gas station. Patrick and a companion had a brief exchange of words with a group of men. Following the dispute, Patrick and his acquaintance returned to their vehicle. As they were driving away, the group of men they had argued with opened fire on their car, striking Patrick.
Investigators utilized high-quality surveillance footage from the gas station to swiftly identify the individuals involved in the shooting. The video evidence was clear enough that law enforcement did not need to release it to the public to seek help in identifying the suspects. This led to the prompt arrest and charging of four individuals in connection with Patrick's death.
The suspects were identified as 22-year-old Daquan Jenkins, 19-year-old Bruce Davis, 20-year-old Makaelon Bennett, and 20-year-old Jahmichael Jordan. All four men faced charges of first-degree reckless homicide. The criminal complaint detailed that surveillance footage captured Jenkins handing a gun to Davis before he, Bennett, and Jordan began shooting at the vehicle Patrick was in. Jahmichael Jordan later admitted to detectives that he joined in the shooting because he felt pressured by the others. Subsequently, some of the individuals charged have been sentenced for their roles in the death of Patrick Rtize Martin.
