In the late afternoon of September 23, 2022, Jameal R. Lee Verlin, a 24-year-old Black / African American male, was at his job at a tire shop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, near the intersection of 9th and Atkinson. The day took a tragic turn when a person entered the shop and opened fire, striking Verlin in the chest. The shooter, who was known to the family, fled the scene immediately after the fatal attack.
Just moments before the deadly encounter, Verlin had been on the phone with his
cousin, Daja Lee-Bolton. She had called to warn him about a disturbing and threatening post she had seen on Facebook. Despite the warning, the violence that followed cut his life short, leaving his family and community in mourning. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office later identified him as one of four victims of homicide in the city that weekend.
In the wake of the shooting, the Milwaukee Police Department launched an active investigation into the homicide. Despite the family's knowledge of the suspect's identity, no arrests have been made in connection with Jameal R. Lee Verlin's death. His family continues to seek justice and has publicly urged anyone with information to come forward to assist law enforcement in apprehending the individual responsible for his death. They remember him as a kind and caring person who was always smiling and willing to help others.
