In the late summer of 2014, the life of a 24-year-old Black / African American man, Tavion Milams, was tragically cut short on the streets of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Known in the local music scene as an aspiring rapper who performed under the name Tay Gutta, Milams was shot and killed on September 8, 2014. His death was the result of a confrontation over a drug debt, an altercation that ended in what was described as a friendly fire incident.
The events that led to Milams's death began
when he and a friend, 37-year-old Robert Spencer, confronted another man, Rashawn Smith, over $5,000 that Smith owed to Spencer from a drug deal. During the street encounter, Spencer, who was armed, took Smith's money and cellphone and threatened his life. A struggle ensued, and Spencer fired his weapon. The bullet fatally struck Tavion Milams.
In the aftermath, Robert Spencer was arrested and charged with felony murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The case went to trial, and in July 2015, Spencer was sentenced to 28 years in prison for his role in the death of his friend. The prosecuting attorney argued that such disputes should not be handled in the streets, and the judge, noting the combination of firearms and drug activity, deemed Spencer a risk to public safety, necessitating a lengthy prison sentence. Spencer had a prior criminal record, including an eight-year prison term for battery and disorderly conduct.
