On the evening of November 14, 2016, a domestic dispute in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, ended in the tragic death of 30-year-old Kortni A. Thornton, a Black female. The incident unfolded around 9:30 p.m. on the 7400 block of West Glenbrook Road. Thornton had gone to the residence to pick up her children from her estranged husband, 32-year-old Dexter Gardner.
When Thornton attempted to leave, Gardner reportedly blocked her from closing her car door and revealed a handgun.
Despite her attempts to de-escalate the situation, Gardner opened fire, striking Thornton multiple times. A 57-year-old woman who was with Thornton was also shot and injured, but her injuries were not life-threatening. Despite the efforts of first responders, Kortni Thornton was pronounced dead at the scene. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed that she died from multiple gunshot wounds.
Milwaukee police quickly identified Dexter Gardner as the suspect and he was taken into custody shortly after the shooting. He was subsequently charged with multiple offenses, including first-degree reckless homicide. The shooting was the culmination of a history of domestic issues. At the time of the incident, Gardner was already facing charges related to a prior domestic incident involving Thornton and was under a no-contact order. The community mourned the loss of Thornton, a mother of three, and her family later established the "Seed of Hope: The Kortni Thornton Foundation" to raise awareness about domestic violence.
