On the night of November 13, 2015, a fatal encounter unfolded outside a Milwaukee tavern that would claim the life of Colin T. Alexander, a 47-year-old Black / African American male. The evening took a tragic turn following an argument that spilled out of Waz's Tavern, located at the corner of West Burleigh and North 46th streets. Shortly after 11:30 p.m., what began as a verbal dispute escalated into deadly violence, leaving one man dead and another wounded.
A relative who had
accompanied Alexander to the tavern stepped outside for a cigarette and soon after saw Alexander emerge, engaged in a heated argument with another man. The situation quickly intensified as the man brandished a gun. The relative overheard Alexander attempting to de-escalate the confrontation, saying, "Hold on, hold on, it ain't anything serious." Despite his pleas, the armed man, identified as Johnnie Lee Tucker, grabbed Alexander's jacket and pointed the weapon at him. Surveillance footage from the scene captured Alexander attempting to flee across the street, but Tucker pursued him, still aiming the gun.
In the ensuing chaos, Alexander was fatally shot. The violence did not end there; Tucker then approached Alexander's relative, who was being assaulted by another individual in the road, and shot him as well. The relative sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators later identified the shooter as 51-year-old Johnnie Lee Tucker. The motive appeared to be connected to a personal conflict, as Tucker had a child with a woman who was dating Alexander at the time of the shooting.
Johnnie Lee Tucker was subsequently arrested and faced multiple charges, including first-degree intentional homicide, aggravated battery by use of a dangerous weapon, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. In July 2016, a jury found Tucker guilty on all counts. He was later sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Colin Alexander, bringing a measure of legal closure to the violent and senseless act that cut a man's life short.
