On a summer evening in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the life of Joe Lee Jackson Jr., a 26-year-old Black / African American male, was tragically cut short. On June 19, 2019, while walking home from a store, Jackson was shot and killed in an alley near 94th Street and Silver Spring Drive. The entire harrowing incident was captured on surveillance video, which showed an unidentified man following Jackson before pulling out a gun and opening fire.
In the months that followed, the haunting footage
prompted numerous calls to the Milwaukee police department, yet no arrests have been made in the case. The passage of time has done little to ease the suffering of Jackson's family, who have repeatedly pleaded with the public for any information that could lead to the capture of the person responsible. His mother, Debra Hawthorne, has spoken of her profound grief and her reliance on faith to navigate the "hell" her family has endured since his death.
The family has held vigils and made public appeals, determined to keep Joe's story, face, and name in the public consciousness. They remain hopeful that someone will come forward with the crucial information that will bring justice for Joe Lee Jackson Jr. and finally provide his loved ones with a measure of peace. Despite the tips received by law enforcement, the suspect in the shooting remains at large.
