A somber mood has enveloped Milwaukee following the tragic Easter Sunday shooting that claimed the life of a 17-year-old high school student. Donell Jones, a senior at Milwaukee Lutheran High School, was shot and killed in the early hours of the holiday. According to reports from WISN, the incident also left a 20-year-old injured. Neighbors' security footage captured individuals fleeing the scene moments after the shooting occurred.
Witnesses state that Jones was attending a party near 23rd and Townsend when the shooting took place. Tawanda Staten, his mother, shared with CBS 58, "Detectives knocked at my door, when they knocked at my door, I already knew it wasn't good." Jones, noted for his aspirations and hard work, had planned to thoroughly pursue a career in medicine after recently enrolling at Northern Illinois University.
Amidst her grief, Staten lamented the persistent gun violence in the community. In a statement to CBS 58, she said, "We can talk all day about putting the guns down, but the guns are here to stay, and they're in the wrong hands of people." As the family prepares to hold a candlelight vigil in remembrance of Jones, they hope for peace while questioning the safety in their neighborhood.
Jones' ambitions painted a future full of promise; he worked at Metro Market, saving up to buy a car for college. "He had goals, and I'm just sorry he's gone," expressed his great aunt Lena Adams, in a statement obtained by CBS 58. The Milwaukee police have yet to identify a suspect in the shooting but continue to actively search for those involved. Staten, coping with her loss, conceded to CBS 58 that even without an arrest, she believes "God knows who he is. God's gonna take care of him."
The community now grieves a life cut short – a teenager just weeks away from graduation. Described as respectful and smart, Jones' death is a reminder of the stolen potential that gun violence leaves in its wake. According to TMJ4, Jones was not only excelling in academics but also as a running back on the school's football team.
