In the autumn of 2017, the life of 20-year-old Xavier S. Barfield, a Black male, was cut tragically short in a violent shooting on the streets of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On the evening of November 20th, Barfield was driving a blue Infiniti near the intersection of 51st and Chambers. He was not alone; a 23-year-old passenger accompanied him on what would be a fateful ride.
Suddenly, their vehicle was pursued by a black Infiniti SUV.
Inside the SUV were at least three individuals, their intentions hostile. A witness to the harrowing scene described seeing one of the occupants of the SUV leaning out of a rear passenger window, firing an assault rifle at Barfield's car. The relentless gunfire tore through the Infiniti, striking both Barfield and his passenger. Barfield was hit in the neck and back, and his car, now without a driver in control, crashed into a tree. The passenger, though injured, survived. Barfield, however, was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators would later find 30 spent cartridge casings, indicating that multiple firearms had been discharged during the assault.
The investigation into the homicide quickly gained momentum. A crucial piece of evidence emerged when police located the stolen black Infiniti SUV used by the assailants abandoned on the 6300 block of Kaul Street. The vehicle had been wiped down in an attempt to remove any incriminating evidence. Despite this, a fingerprint was lifted from the exterior of the driver's side door. This print was later identified as belonging to Jorian Bruce, a 20-year-old Milwaukee man. Acting on this lead, officers executed a search warrant at a residence near 39th and Lloyd, where they discovered Bruce hiding in the basement and took him into custody.
Further investigation revealed that the shooting was part of a larger, violent feud between rival groups in Milwaukee. Another individual, Davion Pickens, was also implicated in Barfield's murder. Court documents detailed a six-week crime spree involving Pickens and another man, Caleb Virgil, that included a series of shootings, vehicle thefts, and drug deals. The conflict reportedly stemmed from an incident where a member of a rival group had robbed Virgil. In connection with the shooting of Xavier Barfield, Jorian Bruce was charged with first-degree reckless homicide, first-degree recklessly endangering safety, and bail jumping. Davion Pickens faced charges of first-degree reckless homicide and first-degree recklessly endangering safety. In January 2023, Jorian Bruce was sentenced to five years in prison followed by six years of extended supervision for his role in the fatal shooting. Davion Pickens, after pleading guilty to amended charges of second-degree reckless homicide and second-degree recklessly endangering safety, was sentenced in July 2024 to 17 years in prison and ten years of extended supervision for his involvement in the series of crimes that included the death of Xavier Barfield.
