In the early morning hours of June 21, 2020, the life of 34-year-old Victoria Smith, a Black female from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was tragically cut short in a devastating sequence of events. Smith was attending a house party near 28th Street and Ruby Avenue when a fight broke out, leading to a hail of gunfire. Neighbors reported hearing what sounded like "World War III," with numerous shots being fired. In the chaos that ensued, five people were struck by bullets, including Victoria Smith.
In a desperate attempt to save her life, a 29-year-old man named Leerance Riley tried to rush Smith to the hospital in a private vehicle. Driving at a high rate of speed, Riley lost control of the car and crashed into a tree near Sherman Boulevard and Nash Street. The impact of the collision was catastrophic, and both Victoria Smith and Leerance Riley were pronounced dead at the scene. It remains unclear whether Smith succumbed to her gunshot wounds or the injuries sustained in the crash.
The shooting at the house party also left a 29-year-old man in critical condition and a 33-year-old man in stable condition. Two other women, aged 22 and 33, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were treated and released from the hospital. In the immediate aftermath, the Milwaukee Police Department began an investigation into the quintuple shooting, seeking unknown suspects. However, there have been no subsequent public announcements regarding any arrests made or suspects identified in connection with the shooting at the party. The individuals responsible for the gunfire that ultimately led to the deaths of Victoria Smith and Leerance Riley have not been publicly named.
