On a summer day in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the life of Joseph R. Jenkins, a 26-year-old Black man, was tragically cut short. It was July 23, 2015, and Jenkins was with his family, a day that held the promise of looking toward the future. He was with his fiancée, Jacquel Smith, and their two young daughters, aged eight and three, on their way to an ultrasound appointment for their unborn child. The family made a stop at a corner store near the intersection of Buffum and Burleigh streets.
As Jenkins was about to get back into their red Pontiac, where his girlfriend and children were waiting, a horrifying sequence of events unfolded.
From a passing red car with tinted windows, an assailant opened fire. At least eleven shots were fired in the busy street, turning a moment of familial routine into one of terror. Jenkins immediately ran, a decision his girlfriend believes saved her and their daughters' lives, as the shooter continued to fire at the car. He tried to take cover but collapsed outside the convenience store and died from his injuries. The entire devastating event was witnessed by his family, who were left to grapple with the sudden and violent loss.
In the aftermath, the Milwaukee police began their investigation, searching for the person responsible for the brazen daylight shooting. The authorities released a description of a suspect they were seeking in connection with the murder. They were looking for a Black male in his early 20s with shoulder-length dreadlocks who was seen in the red car from which the shots were fired. Despite the public appeal for information and the clear description of a potential suspect, details regarding any arrests in the case have not been made publicly available. The community was left mourning the loss of a man described as a loving father who was excitedly awaiting the birth of his third child.
