In the late afternoon of February 3, 2014, a tragic encounter unfolded in the 2800 block of W. Kilbourn Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that would end the life of 22-year-old Bruce Lloyd Jr., a Black/African American male. What began as a prearranged meeting for a marijuana transaction quickly escalated into a fatal armed robbery. The young man had agreed to meet 20-year-old Johnnie Wesley, unaware that Wesley had arrived with the intention of robbing him.
When Lloyd handed over a small
bag of marijuana, Wesley produced a. 45 caliber pistol and demanded money. A struggle for the weapon ensued, during which the gun discharged, inflicting a mortal wound on Lloyd. Responding officers discovered Lloyd lying in the street near his vehicle; the driver's side door was open and music played at a high volume from within. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after 4:00 p.m. An autopsy later confirmed that he died from blood loss caused by the gunshot wound.
In the investigation that followed, Johnnie Wesley was identified as the primary suspect. He was arrested on February 5, 2014. During questioning, Wesley admitted to planning the robbery, stating that he was in need of money. However, he claimed that he did not intend to shoot Lloyd and that the gun went off during their struggle.
Subsequently, the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office charged Johnnie Wesley with one count of felony murder. Legal proceedings ensued, during which Wesley's confession became a point of contention, though his attempt to have it suppressed was denied. He ultimately pled guilty to the charge and faced a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison for his role in the death of Bruce Lloyd Jr.
