Raven Coley, a 24-year-old mother of four from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, tragically lost her life on February 4, 2020. The incident occurred inside an apartment building near 23rd Street and Kilbourn Avenue. According to the criminal complaint, officers arrived at the scene around 10:45 p.m. and found Coley suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite paramedics' efforts to resuscitate her, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Milwaukee County medical examiner determined that a single gunshot wound to the head was the cause of death, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Deonte Wilkins, a 23-year-old Milwaukee man, was charged in connection with Coley's death. He faced one count of homicide by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon. Wilkins initially told police that a stranger had broken into the apartment, shot Coley, and left. However, detectives found no signs of forced entry. A witness inside the apartment at the time of the incident reported hearing Wilkins on the phone discussing the gun he was holding moments before the shooting. The witness then heard a gunshot and saw Wilkins jumping up and down, screaming that he had accidentally shot Coley.
Wilkins pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to one-and-a-half years in prison, with an additional two-and-a-half years of extended supervision. He received credit for 17 days served. The case highlighted the tragic consequences of negligent handling of firearms and the devastating impact on Coley's family, including her four young children, who were left without their mother.
