On a late summer evening in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a family barbecue turned into a scene of tragedy, ending the life of 24-year-old Demetrius Holmes, a Black/African American male. On September 7, 2019, Holmes, a local tattoo artist, was with his family near 28th and Wright when gunfire erupted.
According to family members, the tragic event unfolded after Dominique Chambers, 24, who lived across the street, drove past the gathering.
Holmes had previously mentioned to his family that Chambers had threatened to kill him. Shortly after, Chambers' vehicle was seen circling the block twice before parking in a nearby alley.
Witnesses reported that Chambers then approached the residence on foot, armed with a handgun. He allegedly looked at Holmes and said, "Don't move or I'll pop you," before he began shooting. In the chaos that ensued, family members scrambled to shield a 4-year-old child from the gunfire. Holmes was struck by multiple bullets and was found on the front porch with four gunshot wounds. His grandmother recalled his last words to her were, "Granny, I can't breathe." He later died from his injuries.
In the aftermath of the shooting, police recovered numerous casings from the scene, including 13 9mm casings in the street and seven. 40 caliber casings across the street. Family members identified the shooter as Chambers, also known by the nickname "D-Boy." They also believed there may have been two other shooters involved. Following the incident, an arrest warrant was issued for Dominique Chambers, who was subsequently charged with one count of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, as party to a crime, use of a dangerous weapon.
