On a tragic Memorial Day weekend in 2017, the life of 24-year-old Black / African American woman, Teresa L. Wade, was cut short in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The events that led to her death on Sunday, May 28th, unfolded at a Citgo gas station at the intersection of Teutonia and Hampton Avenues, stemming from a dispute over a man.
Earlier that day, Teresa was driving with a friend when she spotted Jasmin Troutman, also 24, driving a vehicle belonging to the father of Teresa's child.
Angered by this, Teresa followed Troutman into the gas station parking lot. A heated verbal altercation ensued, captured by the station's surveillance cameras. Prosecutors stated that Teresa threatened Troutman. In turn, Troutman exited her car and confronted Teresa. The situation escalated when Teresa maneuvered her vehicle, bumping into the car Troutman was driving.
In response, Jasmin Troutman retrieved a handgun from her vehicle. She approached the driver's side of the car Teresa was in and fired a single shot, striking Teresa in the lower abdomen. Despite being mortally wounded, Teresa managed to drive away from the gas station. However, she lost consciousness and her vehicle came to a stop near 35th and Hampton. When law enforcement arrived, they found her unresponsive in the driver's seat. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation quickly led to Jasmin Troutman, who was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting. During an interview with investigators, Troutman admitted to shooting Teresa. She revealed that she had been dating the father of Teresa's child since August of the previous year, while Teresa was still pregnant, and that she had been receiving threats from Teresa. Following her arrest, Jasmin Troutman was charged with second-degree reckless homicide and second-degree recklessly endangering safety, both with the use of a dangerous weapon. A jury found her guilty on both counts, and she was subsequently sentenced to serve a total of seven years in prison, to be followed by four years of extended supervision.
