A Milwaukee neighborhood is in mourning after 16-year-old Marquis was fatally shot and two others were injured late Monday night near the intersection of 79th Street and Hampton Avenue, in yet another act of gun violence that has shaken the city.
The Milwaukee Police Department said officers responded around 10 p.m. after receiving multiple reports of gunfire. When they arrived, they found Marquis suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead after being transported to a nearby hospital.
Two of Marquis’s friends — a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old — were also shot. They were rushed to local hospitals and remain in serious but stable condition. Police believe the shooting was targeted, though the motive remains under investigation.
Detectives spent several hours combing through the scene, collecting shell casings, photographing evidence, and interviewing witnesses. Surveillance footage from nearby homes and businesses is being reviewed as investigators work to identify suspects. So far, no arrests have been made, and police are urging anyone with information to contact Milwaukee Police or Crime Stoppers.
The neighborhood, already weary from repeated acts of violence, has been left heartbroken. Longtime residents say they are tired of living in fear and watching young lives lost to senseless shootings.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said one resident who has lived in the area for more than 20 years. “We’ve lost too many kids to this kind of violence. It needs to stop.”
Friends and classmates described Marquis as a kind, funny, and caring teen — someone who brought joy to others and stayed out of trouble. Grief counselors have been made available at his school to help students process the devastating loss.
Community leaders and youth advocates are once again calling for renewed efforts to combat youth violence and expand opportunities for young people.
“These young people deserve more than fear and memorials,” said one local pastor. “They deserve hope, opportunity, and safety.”
On Tuesday evening, dozens gathered near the scene for a candlelight vigil to honor Marquis’s memory. The crowd — made up of family, friends, and neighbors — lit candles, prayed, and shared stories of the teenager’s warmth and kindness.
As the investigation continues, the community clings to hope that justice will be served and that Marquis’s death will spark action to end the cycle of violence claiming Milwaukee’s youth