In the spring of 2022, on a Monday night, the life of 32-year-old Andre Lamon, a Black male, was tragically cut short in a burst of violence on the Southside of Milwaukee. On March 28th, at approximately 9:00 p.m., police responded to a grim scene at the 2600 block of S. 9th Street, near W. Harrison Avenue. Inside a vehicle, they discovered two men who had been shot. Lamon had sustained life-threatening injuries and was rushed to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his wounds.
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office subsequently ruled his death a homicide. Unofficial reports on social media suggested he had been shot at least six times. The other victim, a 33-year-old man, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was expected to survive.
The investigation into the shooting continued for several weeks, leaving a void of answers for Lamon's loved ones. The initial aftermath of the incident saw no immediate arrests, and the specter of an unsolved homicide hung over the community. Friends and family were left to mourn a life lost to gun violence, remembering him through online memorials where candles were lit in his honor. The quiet passage of time did little to dull the pain of his absence or the desire for justice to be served.
A breakthrough in the case came in May of that year. On May 13, 2022, authorities charged 33-year-old Francisco J. Herrera with one felony count of murder in connection with Andre Lamon's death. The investigation revealed a sinister plot; Herrera had allegedly conspired with several other individuals to set up Lamon under the guise of a drug deal with the intention of robbing him. During the armed robbery, shots were fired, resulting in Lamon being struck twice. Herrera also sustained a gunshot wound to his leg during the altercation. Following his arrest, a cash bond of $150,000 was set for Herrera as he awaited further legal proceedings.
