On a cool November evening in 2015, a simmering feud between two women in Milwaukee would tragically escalate, culminating in the death of 24-year-old Dominique Jordan, a Black male. The night of Sunday, November 8th, was shattered by gunfire near 8th and Galena, an eruption of violence that claimed Jordan's life and left a community shaken. The catalyst for this tragedy was a pre-arranged physical altercation between Nadirah King and Domonique Smith.
Jordan, who was romantically involved with Smith, had been called to the scene to pick up their children, unknowingly stepping into a volatile situation that would soon spiral out of control.
As a crowd gathered to watch the fight, the tension was palpable. Among the onlookers were 20-year-old Romello Anderson and 19-year-old Breon Williams. As the two women fought, the scene descended into chaos when multiple individuals drew firearms and exchanged gunfire. In the midst of the mayhem, Dominique Jordan was struck by a single bullet in the back as he attempted to flee to his vehicle. Despite his fatal injury, Jordan managed to get into his car and drive a short distance before crashing into a retaining wall near 10th and Walnut, where he succumbed to his wound. Another woman at the scene was also struck by a bullet in the foot but survived. The area was littered with shell casings from different firearms, a testament to the wild and indiscriminate nature of the shooting.
In the aftermath, the investigation into Dominique Jordan's death led to the arrests of Romello Anderson and his cousin, Breon Williams. Both men were charged with first-degree reckless homicide as a party to a crime. During the investigation, Williams admitted to police that he had fired a. 380 caliber handgun with a laser sight during the altercation. Anderson also eventually implicated himself, and in a plea deal, he pleaded no-contest to a reduced charge of second-degree reckless homicide. He was subsequently sentenced for his role in the fatal shooting.
While Anderson and Williams were the primary individuals charged, another name, Terrel Brooks, was mentioned by Anderson as also having been a shooter at the scene. However, reports indicated that Brooks was facing charges for a separate and unrelated felony murder. The legal proceedings brought a measure of resolution to the case, with Romello Anderson being held accountable for his part in the tragic death of Dominique Jordan. The senseless violence that erupted from a personal dispute serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of gun violence, forever altering the lives of all those involved and leaving a painful void in the community.
