In the early evening chill of a Milwaukee autumn, a burst of gunfire shattered the Sunday peace on the city's south side, leaving a family and a community to grapple with a sudden and violent loss. Elbert W. Craig, a 42-year-old Black / African American man, was outside of his residence in the 1500 block of S. 9th Street on November 19, 2017, when he was shot.
The incident occurred at approximately 5:25 p.m., a time when many were settling in for the evening, unprepared for the tragedy that was about to unfold in their neighborhood.
Emergency services were quick to respond, and Craig was rushed to a local hospital in a desperate attempt to save his life. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, the severity of his injuries proved to be too great. Craig succumbed to his wounds, and what began as a shooting investigation soon became a homicide case for the Milwaukee Police Department. The initial hours of the investigation were critical, as detectives canvassed the area, speaking with potential witnesses and searching for any evidence that might lead them to the person or persons responsible for this senseless act of violence.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, details were scarce, and the motive behind the attack was not publicly known. The Milwaukee Police Department announced that they were actively investigating the homicide but had not yet taken any suspects into custody. They appealed to the public for assistance, urging anyone with information to come forward and help bring closure to a grieving family and community. As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into years, the case of Elbert W. Craig's death remained without a public resolution. There have been no subsequent announcements of any arrests made or the identification of any suspects in connection with his murder, leaving a painful void for those who knew and loved him. The investigation into his death is considered ongoing.
