Remembering the 10 children who have been killed in Milwaukee in 2023
Zy’Aire Nevels was just days away from turning 2 when she was shot and killed during an argument between adults June 3 on Milwaukee’s north side.
Milwaukee police confirmed that she was the 10th child homicide victim in the city this year.
"I've been talking consistently about the need for people to be better with guns, to have better control on guns, to put guns down, because nothing good ever happens when you pull the trigger," Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said the day after Nevels died.
From 2016 to 2019, 10 or fewer children were killed in Milwaukee, according to police and the city's Homicide Review Commission. In each of the three years since, 20 or more of the city's homicide victims have been children — a disturbing trend that 2023 seems likely to continue.
A baby granddaughter whose expressive face seemed to hold a glimpse of the strong person she'd someday become. A beloved student and student council leader. A boy who loved recording music. Cherished sons and children, they all leave behind loved ones, inside jokes, dreams that will never be realized.
Below is what we know about their lives.
If you have memories or information to share, please email elliot.hughes@jrn.com.
Zy’Aire Nevels, 1
“She had not had a chance to live. Her life was just beginning,” Teri Brown, Zy’Aire Nevels’ grandmother, told WISN News.
"She was going to be my next Einstein," Brown said. "That smile and that eyebrow. That look."
Another photo circulating online captured a moment in Nevels' short life. Looking up at the camera, one eyebrow slightly raised, her curly hair pulled back, she wore a pink top, matching floral pants and fluffy pink slippers.
A 27-year-old Milwaukee man has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Tyler Brooks, 15
Tyler D. Brooks was found fatally shot on May 9 in the 5500 block of North 92nd Street.
In an online obituary posted on Krause Funeral Home’s website a friend, Nina, expressed disbelief over Brooks' passing.
“I can’t believe I gotta see you like this,” Nina said. “It was nothing but all love with us and all laughs; everytime you would ask me to do something I would say no but end up doing it 5 mins later, I love you 4l. Rest easy my boy.”
Prosecutors charged a 17-year-old boy with first-degree homicide in connection with the case.
Jeremiah Hutson, 16
Jeremiah Hutson was fatally shot May 5 on the 6600 block of West Villard Avenue.
A 20-minute online tribute video shows Hutson throughout his life: as a toddler in a Sesame Street shirt; a boy cuddling a puppy; a teenager with a wide grin, surrounded by family and friends.
Hutson’s biology teacher at Destiny High School called him studious and a natural leader.
“I could always count on you to help others,” Linda Cotter wrote on Hutson’s memorial page. “You are light to the world. Your kindness, dedication to academics, school spirit and your participation on Student Council will always be remembered. I miss you getting to talk to you at Morning Meetings — my most favorite student. I love you Jeremiah, blessings in Heaven.”
Davion Patterson, 15
Davion Patterson was killed in a mass shooting that injured five others on March 20. The shooting occurred in the 1400 block of West Concordia Avenue.
Patterson’s mother, Tiera Carter, described Patterson as a good kid with a heart of gold. She said she will never see him accomplish his dreams because of this senseless violence.
"I just lost my son. I will never see him graduate high school, I will never see him graduate college or take up a trade or anything,” she told WISN News. “I will never get the opportunity because it was taken from him for something so stupid. And that's what we really need to teach our kids and tell our kids, all this is stupid, it's not worth it. It's not.”
Patterson attended Milwaukee Excellence Charter School in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. Students at the school wrote a song about ending gun violence and dedicated the track “Life Lost” to Patterson. They also produced a video.
“It felt right, honoring Davion, because it’s about him,” Azaria Giboney, a 10th grader at the school, told TMJ4 News.
A 16-year-old boy has been charged in connection with the shooting.
Dereon Duke, 16
Dereon Duke died from a stabbing March 8. He was found in the 7000 block of North 43rd Street.
Duke attended Early View Academy of Excellence. Known as Little D, he had a passion for basketball and loved playing video games.
His funeral was streamed online by Mt. Zion Assembly Healing Temple.
Ellis Murchison Jr., a youth pastor who also works as a behavioral specialist at Early View Academy, spoke at the service and fondly remembered Duke as a "character" who had "a boldness about him." While Duke resisted going to class when he was younger, Murchison said, he'd "made a great change ... and grown up to be a respectful young man."
Many people shared memories, most growing emotional as they spoke of Duke’s life.
“With him not around it’s not going to be the same,” one friend said.
Duke’s obituary was read aloud at the service, followed by notes from relatives. A remembrance titled “letter to my brother” included: “I can’t tell you how much I would give to have you back in my life. I love you brother. I will always keep your name alive, forever in my heart.”
A 19-year-old woman was charged in connection with Duke’s death.
Jose Monarrez, 15
Jose Monarrez was shot and killed on the 2100 block of South 6th Street on March 1.
Bev Rodriguez, who organized a GoFundMe page that raised more than $5,000 for his family, wrote that Monarrez was a “happy teen.”
“He was definitely the life of the party, someone who brought joy and laughter to everyone around him,” Rodriguez wrote. “Jay touched everyone's heart, no doubt about that.”
Jamarri Paige, 13
Jamarri Paige was fatally shot Feb. 19 on the 4100 block of North 47th Street.
Paige was an eighth grader at Hartford University School at UW-Milwaukee, according to TMJ4 News. A neighbor remembered him fondly as the young boy he would see cutting grass in the summer.
Prosecutors brought charges against an 18-year-old man in connection to his shooting.
Javier Winston, 15
Javier Winston was shot and killed Jan. 23 on the 3600 block of North 9th Street.
His mother, Brittney Winston, told WISN News he was her oldest son and was a sophomore at North Division High School.
The WISN video shows a memorial for Winston on a tree near where he was killed: Flowers, messages of love and support, and silver balloons spelling out J-A-V-I-E-R.
Sebastian Florentino, 14
Sebastian Florentino died in a shooting on Milwaukee’s northwest side Jan. 21 that also injured another teen.
He is survived by his parents and six siblings, according to his obituary. He loved to play basketball and record music with friends.
“He always brought a smile to my face and was such a sweet kid,” Alison Breckenridge, Sebastian’s first-grade teacher, wrote on a GoFundMe page that raised $5,200 for his family.
Prosecutors filed homicide charges against a 14-year-old boy in connection with the shooting.
Stephen L. Perkins Jr., 17
Stephen died in a shooting on Milwaukee’s northwest side Jan. 1.
The Journal Sentinel was unable to locate biographical information for Stephen, but the incident did spur a number of violence prevention professionals and community activists to issue a call for peace.
At the event, activist Vaun Mayes said Stephen had been active in some of the community events he organized several years ago. Mayes said he and his partners had lost track of Stephen during the pandemic.
"We need consistency in what we’re doing," he said. "When this pandemic started, we lost access to a lot of those young people that we were consistent with. That’s unacceptable."
Two teens have been charged in connection with the shooting.
Where to find help
Milwaukee's Office of Violence Prevention recommends these resources for free support:
414Life outreach and conflict mediation support: 414-439-5398.
Milwaukee County's 24-Hour Mental Health Crisis Line: 414-257-7222.
Milwaukee's Child Mobile Crisis and Trauma Response Team: 414-257-7621.
National crisis text line: Text HOPELINE to 741741 to text with a trained crisis counselor.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233.
Need more help with crime and safety questions? The Milwaukee Resource Guide is here to help. Have something you want answered? Submit a question.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Remembering the 10 children killed in Milwaukee homicides in 2023
