On a summer afternoon in Glendale, Wisconsin, a family tragedy unfolded that cut short the life of 20-year-old Robert Washington Jr., a Black male. The events of June 26, 2014, began with a seemingly ordinary family activity, as Robert and his 15-year-old brother, Wesley, played basketball in their driveway. The situation escalated when their father, Robert Washington Sr., who appeared to be intoxicated, joined their game and fell after being knocked over during play.
Following the incident on the basketball court, the father went back into the house and returned with a handgun. He then shot at his younger son, Wesley, injuring him. In a heroic attempt to intervene and protect his brother, Robert Jr. ran towards his father and was fatally shot in the chest at close range. When police arrived at the home on West Theresa Lane, they found the two brothers lying in a neighbor's driveway. Paramedics performed CPR on Robert Jr., but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Wesley was treated for his injuries and released from the hospital. The boys' parents were reportedly in the midst of a divorce at the time of the incident.
Robert Washington Sr., then 57, surrendered to the police without incident. He was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree reckless homicide for the death of Robert Jr. and first-degree reckless injury for the shooting of Wesley. He told authorities that he felt bullied and disrespected by his family. In court, he pleaded guilty to the charges. In December 2014, a judge sentenced him to 41 years in prison for the tragic and senseless killing of his son and the wounding of another.
