In the spring of 2014, the life of 32-year-old Darius Parker, a Black male, was tragically cut short in a violent encounter within a Milwaukee apartment. On the evening of April 21st, police were dispatched to a residence in the 5200 block of N. 42nd St. around 8 p.m. following reports of gunfire. Inside, they discovered the bodies of Parker and 34-year-old Willie J. Shankle.
Both men had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene.
The initial investigation into the double homicide left police searching for a motive and suspects. For a time, no one was in custody, leaving a void of answers for the families of the victims. However, the investigation progressed, and several days later, a 17-year-old was taken into custody in connection with the fatal shootings. This arrest marked a significant development in the case.
Further investigation led to formal charges being filed in August of that year. Eighteen-year-old Richard Littlejohn of Milwaukee was charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide as a party to a crime for the deaths of Parker and Shankle. According to the criminal complaint, the incident unfolded after Littlejohn went to the residence with the intention of purchasing a gun from Shankle.
During the transaction, Littlejohn allegedly pulled out a. 22 caliber handgun from his backpack and shot Shankle. The complaint details that he then turned his attention to Parker, who was also present in the room, and opened fire. Parker attempted to flee to a back bedroom, but Littlejohn followed him, and more shots were fired. Another individual, Kenneth Wright, was also implicated and faced a felony charge of harboring a felon in connection with the crime. The motive, as stated by Wright to the police, was robbery.
