In a tragically brief encounter inside a Milwaukee store, 18-year-old Tamaris K. Smith, a Black / African American male, lost his life on June 9, 2022. The fatal incident occurred near 40th and Burleigh, where Smith had gone to try on a new t-shirt. His life was cut short in a sudden and violent act that was captured on the store's surveillance cameras.
The video footage from that day shows Smith entering the establishment and moving towards the back.
Shortly after, another 18-year-old, Quaveion Stanley, entered the store. Stanley approached Smith, and after a brief, seemingly verbal exchange, he raised a firearm and shot Smith multiple times. Even as he fled the store, Stanley continued to fire at Smith, who was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators at the scene recovered four fired. 40 caliber cartridge casings and a fired bullet near his body.
The investigation into the shooting led police to Quaveion Stanley, who was already known to law enforcement due to a prior arrest and gang associations. On June 21, 2022, acting on a tip, investigators located Stanley in the vicinity of 19th and Atkinson. As police moved in to arrest him, Stanley attempted to discard a black Glock 22. 40 caliber semi-automatic handgun by throwing it under a food truck. He was taken into custody, and the firearm was recovered. At the time of his arrest, Stanley was also found to be in possession of marijuana.
Following his arrest, Quaveion Stanley was charged with first-degree reckless homicide and two counts of misdemeanor bail jumping. He made his initial court appearance on June 26, 2022, where his cash bond was set at $200,000.
