On a late summer afternoon in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the life of Tracey Smith, a 46-year-old Black / African American woman, was tragically cut short in a senseless act of violence. On August 30, 2019, Smith, a sergeant with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, was patiently teaching her 17-year-old son how to drive. What began as a routine driving lesson near North 51st Street and West Capitol Drive turned into a nightmare when their vehicle was involved in a minor traffic accident with a
van.
Following the collision, Smith got out of her car to speak with the other driver. An argument quickly erupted between Smith and the driver of the van, escalating the tense situation. In front of her teenage son, the man in the van produced a firearm and shot Smith. The suspect then fled the scene, leaving her son and bystanders to grapple with the horrific event. Witnesses at the scene rushed to help, and Smith was transported to a local hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries.
The Milwaukee Police Department swiftly launched an investigation into the homicide. Using surveillance footage, they were able to identify the van and its license plate, which led them to the suspect. Within days, authorities arrested 35-year-old Matthew Lee Wilks in connection with the fatal shooting. A search of his residence revealed a handgun and cocaine. Wilks was subsequently charged with first-degree intentional homicide, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and drug possession.
In February 2020, a jury found Matthew Wilks guilty of first-degree intentional homicide and possession of a firearm by a felon. During the trial, prosecutors argued that the shooting was a result of road rage. Wilks’ defense claimed he acted in self-defense, but he did not testify, and the defense called no witnesses. After less than two hours of deliberation, the jury returned a guilty verdict. In July 2020, Matthew Wilks was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of extended supervision for the murder of Tracey Smith, bringing a measure of closure to a case that began with a mother's lesson and ended in a devastating loss.
