Rosalind Ross, a 30-year-old Black / African American woman, had a promising future ahead of her, one that was tragically cut short on September 15, 2010. A former basketball standout who had played for Bradley Tech High School, the University of Oklahoma, and was even drafted by the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, Ross was on the verge of a new chapter in her life. She had recently accepted a coaching position at the University of Oklahoma and was planning to move.
This new opportunity, however, appears to have been a catalyst for the events that led to her untimely death.
On that Wednesday, Ross was in a vehicle with her long-time partner, Malika Willoughby, outside a Popeye's restaurant near 62nd and Silver Spring on Milwaukee's north side. An argument erupted between the two, reportedly after Ross received a phone call that Willoughby questioned. The dispute escalated, and Willoughby retrieved a gun from Ross's book bag. She then shot Ross, killing her in the drive-thru of the fast-food establishment. The incident was described by police as a case of domestic violence. According to Ross's mother, the couple had been arguing for more than a week, and she believed her daughter was trying to end the relationship, describing Willoughby as "overly possessive".
The investigation into Rosalind Ross's death quickly led to Malika Willoughby as the primary suspect. Willoughby, also a former basketball player, was taken into police custody. She was subsequently charged with first-degree intentional homicide. According to the criminal complaint, Willoughby admitted to shooting Ross but claimed she thought she had removed the magazine from the gun before pulling the trigger. In August 2011, Willoughby pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of first-degree reckless homicide with the use of a deadly weapon. In December 2011, a Milwaukee County judge sentenced Malika Willoughby to 13 years in prison, to be followed by seven years of extended supervision.
