On a bright Saturday afternoon in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on November 28, 2015, the life of 34-year-old Black / African American male Anthony "Tony" Vance was tragically cut short. He was driving on the city's north side, near the intersection of N. Sherman Boulevard and W. Bernhard Place, when the unthinkable happened. At approximately 1:30 p.m., another vehicle pulled alongside his, and gunfire erupted.
Multiple shots were fired into Vance's car, striking him and causing his vehicle to
crash into a light pole. Despite the immediate response and efforts of the Milwaukee Fire Department, Vance succumbed to his injuries at the scene. His death marked the 135th homicide in a year that saw a significant rise in violence in the city. Family and friends, who gathered at the scene in a state of shock and grief, remembered him as a man who was actively trying to turn his life around after a recent release from jail, showing a renewed dedication to his family.
In the aftermath, the Milwaukee Police Department launched an investigation into the brazen daylight shooting. Despite the public nature of the crime, no immediate arrests were made, and the case has remained unsolved. Investigators later discovered a connection between the firearm used in Vance's murder and two other homicides that occurred within a ten-day span, linking them to a black Infinity and a shootout on I-43. While two individuals were charged in relation to the freeway shootout, they were not charged with the murders. The police have continued to seek information from the public, and Vance's family has made emotional pleas for witnesses to come forward, hoping for justice and closure in the face of their devastating loss.
