In the cold of a Milwaukee winter evening, a meeting arranged over social media turned deadly for 19-year-old Vonnae R. Whitaker, a Black / African American male. On January 13, 2015, Whitaker, accompanied by two others, went to the 5600 block of N. 91st St. with the intention of purchasing marijuana. The transaction, however, was a setup for a robbery that would end in gunfire and bloodshed.
Whitaker and his companions had responded to a Facebook post about selling marijuana, leading
them to a car where 17-year-old Jarvell Little was the driver and another 17-year-old, Dante K. Bell, was a passenger. When Whitaker and his friends approached the vehicle, Little brandished a gun. What was supposed to be a simple exchange escalated quickly as Little opened fire on the three individuals. The sudden burst of violence left Whitaker fatally wounded and a 15-year-old with him injured. Whitaker was rushed to a hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the shooting moved swiftly, and within a day, Milwaukee police had two suspects in custody. On Wednesday, January 14, 2015, authorities arrested both Jarvell Little and Dante K. Bell in connection with the homicide. Prosecutors later filed charges against the teenage suspects. Little faced the most severe charges, including first-degree reckless homicide for causing Whitaker's death, first-degree reckless injury for wounding the 15-year-old, and possession of a short-barreled rifle. Bell was charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance for his role in the drug deal that led to the fatal encounter.
