On a summer morning in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the life of Idris L. Purdy, a 39-year-old Black man, was cut short by gunfire. The incident, which occurred on August 24, 2018, added to a troubling surge of gun violence that saw 17 homicides in the city in just 24 days. Purdy, who worked in HVAC, was fatally shot during what was later described as an argument.
The investigation into Purdy's death led authorities to Daniel Leo Williams. According to court records, Williams claimed he was only trying to scare Purdy when the gun he was holding discharged. After the shooting, Williams stated that he called 911 and flagged down paramedics before fleeing the scene. He managed to evade capture for eight months before he was located and apprehended by law enforcement.
At the scene of the crime, investigators discovered a black backpack containing items belonging to Williams. A crucial piece of evidence, a fired 9mm Luger cartridge casing, was found on the couch near where Purdy's body was located. At trial, a jury found Daniel Leo Williams guilty of second-degree reckless homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon, as well as unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. For his crimes, Williams was sentenced to a total of thirteen years of initial confinement, followed by eight years of extended supervision.
