On a tragic spring night in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the life of Teneya Little, a 40-year-old Black / African American woman, was cut short. In the early morning hours of May 22, 2016, inside her home near 94th and Bradley, Little was fatally shot in the head. The act of violence unfolded in the presence of her two teenage children, who were in the house at the time.
The immediate aftermath of the shooting was a scene of chilling confession.
Arnell Gilmer, Little's 38-year-old boyfriend, entered the room where the children were and made a startling admission. He told them he had just killed their mother, claiming it was an accident and that he had forgotten the gun was loaded. As authorities arrived and took him into custody, Gilmer repeatedly stated that he had made a mistake and that events were not supposed to unfold in that manner. During his transport to jail, he made further statements, admitting to shooting Little in the head and causing her death.
The investigation that followed painted a grim picture of a volatile and abusive relationship. Family members, including Little's sister, Lisa Briggs, revealed a history of domestic violence. Briggs described the painful experience of watching her sister remain in a relationship with a violent man, stating that Little believed he was a good person who just needed love and support. Just a month prior to the fatal shooting, Gilmer had been charged with substantial battery for allegedly burning Little with a hot knife. According to Briggs, he had verbally threatened to kill her if she did not drop the charges. An autopsy confirmed that Little died from a single gunshot wound to the head, fired at close range, and her death was officially ruled a homicide.
Arnell Gilmer was subsequently charged with first-degree intentional homicide and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In June 2017, a jury found him guilty on both counts. He was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Teneya Little, with an additional five years for the use of a dangerous weapon, to be served consecutively with another sentence for the firearm possession charge.
