On a Sunday afternoon in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on February 13, 2022, the life of 15-year-old Gabrielle L. Landry, a Black / African American female, was tragically cut short. A freshman at North Division High School with dreams of becoming a nurse, Gabby was known by her family as a loving, caring, and protective individual. She was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire of a dispute that did not involve her.
The incident unfolded near 65th and Thurston, stemming from a domestic
argument. A 23-year-old man named Marcellus Duckworth was involved in a dispute with a woman. This led to a confrontation at his home. Gabrielle had accompanied her cousin and another girl to the location. The argument escalated, with items being thrown at a car and attempts to start a physical fight.
As the situation intensified, Duckworth armed himself with a firearm. At one point, he chased after the car in which Gabrielle was a passenger and fired a shot, intending to hit the tire. Instead, the bullet struck Gabrielle in the back seat. She was rushed to a hospital in critical condition but ultimately succumbed to her injuries.
Marcellus Duckworth was arrested and charged with first-degree reckless homicide. He claimed he did not intend to shoot Landry and was aiming for the vehicle's tire. In January 2023, Duckworth was sentenced to 25 years in prison, followed by 12 years of extended supervision for his role in Gabrielle's death. The tragic event left her family heartbroken and the community mourning the senseless loss of a young life.
