In the cold of a Milwaukee winter evening on January 19, 2015, a young Black / African American man's life was irrevocably altered. Arzell James Chisom, a 21-year-old male, was discovered with gunshot wounds in an alley near 30th and West Auer. The discovery was made at approximately 7:30 p.m., a time when the city was settling into the quiet of the night. First responders arrived at the scene and found Chisom in critical condition.
He was rushed to a local hospital, where medical staff fought to save him.
Despite the efforts of the medical team, Arzell Chisom's injuries were too severe. He succumbed to the gunshot wounds on the afternoon of January 21, 2015, two days after he was found. His death was officially classified as a homicide, prompting an investigation by the Milwaukee Police Department. In the immediate aftermath, law enforcement officials worked to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting.
In the days following his death, police identified Chisom as the victim but had no suspects in custody. The investigation into who shot Arzell James Chisom and why was ongoing, leaving his family and community searching for answers. As time passed, the case remained unsolved, with no public announcements of arrests or the identification of any individuals responsible for his death. The promising life of a young man was cut short, and the circumstances surrounding his killing became another of the city's unresolved tragedies.
