In the fall of 2016, a life was tragically cut short in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ronnie McMillon Jr., a 26-year-old Black / African American male, was fatally shot on October 15, 2016. The incident that led to his death unfolded near 38th and Meinecke, stemming from what began as a verbal altercation.
McMillon and a man named James Atterberry, also 26, had been staying with a cousin in Kenosha where they had both recently found employment.
An argument erupted between the two men concerning a 9mm Glock that Atterberry, a concealed carry permit holder, had recently purchased. The dispute escalated dramatically, with McMillon allegedly threatening to take Atterberry's gun and harm his parents. In response, Atterberry drew his weapon, pointed it at the ground, and warned McMillon to stay back. The verbal confrontation continued, and as McMillon moved towards Atterberry, he was shot five to six times. Atterberry then fled the scene in a truck.
Following the shooting, a man identifying himself as McMillon's cousin, who had witnessed the event, went to the Milwaukee Police Department to speak with detectives. This led to James Atterberry being charged with first-degree reckless homicide. However, the legal process that followed was complex. A jury trial in early April of the following year resulted in a deadlocked jury and a mistrial. Subsequently, the charge against Atterberry was amended to second-degree reckless homicide, to which he pleaded guilty on April 20, 2017. On May 26, 2017, James Atterberry was sentenced to 12 years in prison, to be followed by seven years of extended supervision for the death of Ronnie McMillon Jr.
