On the evening of May 15, 2015, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the life of 18-year-old Kendrai Walker, a Black / African American male, was cut short by gunfire. Police were called to the area of 28th and Auer, where they discovered Walker suffering from several gunshot wounds. Despite any efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later confirmed that Walker died as a result of these multiple wounds, and his death was officially ruled a homicide.
Investigators at the scene recovered three. 380 caliber cartridge casings near his body, evidence of the violence that had just unfolded.
The tragedy compounded the following day when a vigil held for Walker turned into another scene of bloodshed. As loved ones gathered to mourn his loss, gunfire erupted, injuring five people. Among the wounded was Walker's own mother, who was found on the ground in the 3100 block of N. 29th Street suffering from three gunshot wounds. The hail of bullets sent attendees scrambling for cover and left a scene littered with casings of different calibers, including 9mm,. 22 caliber, and another. 380 caliber casing. This second shooting underscored the devastating impact of the violence that had taken a young man's life and continued to ripple through his community and family.
In the wake of the shootings, the investigation led to the arrests of three men: 35-year-old Brian Echols, 27-year-old George Eskridge, and 38-year-old Lonell Echols. According to statements made to the police, Eskridge claimed to have witnessed Brian Echols shoot Kendrai Walker and later heard Echols admit to shooting Walker in the head. Further investigation connected a 9mm firearm, recovered during a traffic stop involving the suspects, to the casings found at the scene of Walker's murder. Brian Echols subsequently pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of a firearm by a felon and was sentenced to prison. The other two men, George Eskridge and Lonell Echols, faced charges including first-degree recklessly endangering safety and possession of a firearm by a felon, with one of the women injured at the vigil positively identifying them as two of the shooters.
