Tariq Akbar, a 14-year-old boy from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was tragically shot and killed on July 3, 2015, near the lakefront following the U.S. Bank Fireworks Show. The incident occurred at the intersection of N. Lake Drive and E. Kenilworth Place, where eight or nine shots were fired during a confrontation that stemmed from a Facebook argument over a girl.
Tariq was found without a pulse after being shot in the head, and despite the efforts of five officers who worked in relay teams to revive him, he succumbed to his injuries at Children's Hospital.
In the aftermath of Tariq's death, a 15-year-old boy named Matthew McMillan was charged with first-degree reckless homicide. Witnesses identified McMillan as the shooter, stating that he fired into a crowd of teens during the altercation. However, in October 2016, Milwaukee County prosecutors dropped the charges against McMillan due to unavailable or uncooperative witnesses. Tariq's mother, Arifah Akbar, expressed her belief that while McMillan may not have been the shooter, he likely knew who was responsible.
The case remains unresolved, with no one currently charged in connection with Tariq's murder. On the two-year anniversary of his death, family and friends gathered to honor his memory and keep his name in the public consciousness, hoping that someone would come forward with information. Despite the dismissal of charges against McMillan, the case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning it could potentially be reopened if new evidence or cooperative witnesses emerge.
Tariq's death has left a lasting impact on his family and the community. His father, Katraile Scott, and his former teacher, Tamika Johnson, both spoke about the profound loss and the hope that his death would serve as a wake-up call for young people to abandon violence. The investigation into Tariq's murder continues, with the Milwaukee Police Department urging anyone with information to come forward.
