Lamar Ragland, a 23-year-old Black / African American male, was fatally shot in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on August 29, 2016, in a brazen attack that occurred during his grandfather's funeral procession. Ragland was driving the first car behind the hearse, a distinctive bright gold customized Chevy, near 22nd and Keefe, when the tranquil procession was shattered by violence. A white SUV pulled alongside his vehicle, and a passenger within unleashed a hail of gunfire.
The targeted assault resulted in Ragland's death and left two other occupants of his car injured.
The investigation into the shooting moved swiftly. Shortly after the incident, the white SUV used by the assailant was discovered abandoned and burned, a common tactic to destroy evidence. Law enforcement identified the shooter as Dennis J. Brookshire. It was noted during the legal proceedings that Brookshire was a member of the violent Brothers of the Struggle street gang. Despite the connection to the gang, a clear motive for the targeted killing of Lamar Ragland remained elusive throughout the investigation and trial.
In January 2017, a jury found Dennis J. Brookshire guilty of first-degree intentional homicide for the death of Lamar Ragland. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison, with no possibility of extended supervision for 50 years. The prosecution presented a case that linked Brookshire to other high-profile acts of violence in the months leading up to Ragland's murder, painting a picture of a dangerous individual. Brookshire's defense maintained his innocence, and he intended to appeal the sentence. The tragic and public nature of Lamar Ragland's death had a profound and lasting impact on his family, with his parents speaking of the immense emotional toll and the need for counseling for many family members to cope with their devastating loss.
