In the early morning hours of January 26, 2015, a tragic incident unfolded in a Milwaukee home that resulted in the death of 23-year-old Leroy Smith, a Black/African American male. The event took place at a residence near 24th and Hadley, where a gunshot shattered the quiet of the morning around 3:30 a.m. Responding officers discovered that Smith had been fatally wounded.
The person responsible for the shooting was identified as his own 18-year-old brother, Dennis J. Jackson.
According to the criminal complaint, the tragedy was the result of the mishandling of a firearm. Jackson told investigators that he had found a gun in the kitchen that appeared to be jammed. Following his brother's advice, he attempted to clear the weapon by removing the magazine. After taking the magazine out, he pulled back the gun's hammer, but the bullet did not eject. When he released the hammer, the gun discharged, striking and killing his brother.
Following the shooting, a witness reported that Jackson attempted to leave the residence but was stopped by another person in the house who insisted he remain until the police arrived. Jackson was heard expressing his remorse, stating, "I didn't try to do it, I'm sorry, it's my brother. I tried to uncock it and it went off." Initially, Jackson denied to police that he had handled a gun or shot his brother, but he later recounted the events after being informed of what others had witnessed. Dennis J. Jackson was subsequently arrested and taken into custody. He was charged with homicide by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon and was ultimately found guilty.
