David D. Hughes, a 29-year-old resident of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, tragically lost his life on May 31, 2021. Hughes was shot and killed at Johnsons Park on Milwaukee's northwest side, a location that witnessed four homicides on the same day. According to his mother, Dwilette Archer, Hughes was playing with several children before the incident occurred. Hughes, a father of two young boys aged 8 and 6, was known for his dedication to his family and his involvement in a family-run lawn care service.
He also rented out inflatable bounce houses for kids.
The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office announced an arrest in connection with Hughes' death. The suspect, whose identity was initially withheld, was booked into Milwaukee County Jail on tentative charges of first-degree intentional homicide, theft, possession of a firearm by a felon, and manufacturing or delivering cocaine. Sheriff Earnell Lucas described the shooting as 'cold-blooded' and credited the arrest to the collaborative efforts of the U.S. Marshals Service and the Greenfield Police Department.
Further details emerged when Charles Reddic, a 33-year-old from Cudahy, was charged with first-degree homicide and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Investigators revealed that Hughes was shot multiple times, with an autopsy confirming eight gunshot wounds to his head, neck, shoulder, hip, and wrist. A witness reported seeing Reddic shoot Hughes in the back of the head after removing his mask, allegedly to ensure Hughes saw his face before the fatal act. Following the shooting, Reddic reportedly rifled through Hughes' pockets and stole his fanny pack before fleeing the scene.
Reddic was apprehended more than a week later by the U.S. Marshals Service and Greenfield police. He was held at the Milwaukee County Jail on a $100,000 cash bail and faced up to 60 years in prison if convicted. The case highlighted the ongoing issue of gun violence in Milwaukee, with the city reporting 71 homicides by the time of Hughes' death, a slight increase from the previous year.
