In the summer of 2017, a tragedy struck a Milwaukee neighborhood, forever altering the lives of a local family. On June 25th, 16-year-old Emani Robinson, a Black / African American male, was involved in a confrontation outside a corner store near 39th and Center. The situation escalated with gunfire, and Emani was struck in the head. He succumbed to his injuries the following day, leaving a community to grapple with the sudden and violent loss of a young life.
The immediate aftermath of
the shooting was captured by surveillance cameras from the corner store and a Milwaukee County Transit System bus. The video evidence showed an African-American man, later identified as Tomaz Robinson, exiting a black Chevy Impala and approaching the store where Emani Robinson was standing with another person. This footage became a critical piece of the investigation as Milwaukee police began their search for those responsible for the fatal shooting. The authorities confirmed they were seeking multiple suspects in connection with the incident.
Within weeks of the shooting, the investigation led to arrests and criminal charges. Two men were taken into custody and charged in connection with Emani Robinson's death. 28-year-old Tomaz Robinson of Milwaukee was charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony. Another man, 28-year-old Jamarr Hicks of Milwaukee, faced a charge of harboring or aiding a felon. The criminal complaint detailed that Tomaz Robinson had a prior conviction for armed robbery in 2012, which legally prohibited him from possessing a firearm. Similarly, Jamarr Hicks had a 2013 conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
