Fatoumatta Jallow, a 23-year-old Black female of Gambian ethnicity, had been in the United States for less than a year with aspirations of becoming a nurse. Her life was cut short on December 21, 2016, in Madison, Wisconsin. She was at her job at REM Wisconsin, a home for individuals with disabilities, when a coworker, Ali Hassan, entered the basement and opened fire. Jallow suffered multiple gunshot wounds to her torso and right arm.
Another woman, Julie Connors, was also shot numerous times but managed to survive and call 911 for help.
The motive for the shooting remains unknown, and family members have stated it was not related to a romantic relationship. Hassan, then 26, fled the scene in his car, crashing into another vehicle shortly after. He then attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended by police. He later claimed to have no memory of the events due to being heavily intoxicated that day.
In January 2018, a jury acquitted Ali Hassan of first-degree intentional homicide but found him guilty of the lesser charge of homicide by intoxicated use of a firearm. He was also convicted of attempted first-degree intentional homicide for the shooting of Julie Connors, as well as three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment and attempted arson. Despite his lawyer's recommendation for a 13.5-year sentence, the judge handed down a 60-year prison term. The judge noted that the act seemed to be a methodical plan and that the lack of a known motive was deeply concerning. The funeral service for Fatoumatta Jallow was held on Christmas Eve at the Islamic Center of East Madison. Tragically, her mother was denied a visa to travel from Gambia to attend the funeral and the subsequent trial of her daughter's killer.
