MILWAUKEE, WI — A community is grieving after tragedy struck near the intersection of 79th Street and Hampton Avenue late Monday night, where 16-year-old Marquis was fatally shot and two others were wounded in a burst of gunfire that shattered the quiet of the neighborhood. The shooting, which happened around 10 p.m., has left Milwaukee residents heartbroken and calling once again for an end to the senseless violence that continues to claim young lives.
According to the Milwaukee Police Department, officers responded within minutes after reports of multiple gunshots in the area. When they arrived, they found Marquis suffering from several gunshot wounds. Despite the rapid response and emergency aid at the scene, he was transported to a nearby hospital where he later died from his injuries. His death marks yet another devastating loss in a city struggling to curb rising youth violence.
Two of Marquis’s friends, a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old, were also struck by bullets during the shooting. Both were conscious when first responders arrived but were bleeding heavily and in visible shock. Paramedics rushed them to local hospitals, where they remain in serious but stable condition. Police said the incident appears to have been targeted rather than random, though the motive remains unclear.
Investigators spent hours combing through the area late into the night, collecting shell casings, photographing the scene, and interviewing witnesses. Detectives are also reviewing nearby surveillance footage to identify possible suspects or vehicles seen fleeing the area shortly after the shots were fired. So far, no arrests have been made, and authorities are urging anyone with information to contact Milwaukee police or Crime Stoppers.
The area surrounding 79th and Hampton has seen its share of violence in recent years, with residents expressing frustration and exhaustion over the ongoing bloodshed. Several neighbors told reporters that they heard gunfire earlier in the evening but did not call police, uncertain whether the noises were fireworks or actual gunshots. By the time patrol cars arrived, the tragedy had already unfolded.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said one resident who has lived in the area for over two decades. “We’ve lost too many kids to this kind of violence. It needs to stop.” The emotional toll on the community is evident, as parents, teachers, and friends grapple with how a teenager with his whole life ahead of him could be gone in an instant.
Friends describe Marquis as a good-hearted kid — someone who made people laugh, helped others, and stayed away from trouble. He was known for his bright smile and his ability to lift others’ spirits, even during hard times. His death has left his classmates and teachers devastated, prompting his school to provide grief counselors to help students process the loss.
Community leaders are once again calling for peace and accountability. Youth advocates say more needs to be done to provide safe spaces and mentorship for teens vulnerable to the cycles of violence that plague parts of Milwaukee. “These young people deserve more than fear and memorials,” one local pastor said. “They deserve hope, opportunity, and safety.”
Marquis’s family is now left to mourn a life cut tragically short. Loved ones gathered near the scene on Tuesday evening, lighting candles and placing flowers in his memory. The vigil drew dozens of people, united by grief but also by love — determined to keep his memory alive and to fight for change.
As investigators continue their search for those responsible, the community holds on to hope that justice will be served. Marquis’s story is a painful reminder of how fragile life can be — and how urgent it is to protect the next generation from the violence that has claimed too many already. May he rest in peace, and may his loved ones find strength in the days ahead.
