In the wake of a deadly shooting outside a Milwaukee bar, the family of LaTroy Harris is turning grief into a public stand against gun violence with a new program titled "I Will Not Die to Gun Violence." Harris was fatally shot outside Dee's Elegance on Dec. 15. Prosecutors have charged 39-year-old Antonio Brown in the killing and say he is still at large. Family members and their allies have put up a $25,000 reward for information as they roll out a 20-week education program aimed at teens and adults affected by gun cases, designed to teach conflict resolution and challenge destructive social norms around guns, according to TMJ4.
The initiative is being led by Monte Mabra, founder of Voice of the Fatherless Child, who is framing the effort as a community-driven answer to the shooting that, in his words, "allows Latroy to live forever," he told TMJ4. The proposal centers on a free 20-week curriculum for adults and teens who have been involved in gun cases, with plans to recruit volunteers and secure funding so participants do not pay out of pocket. Mabra said that if the pilot draws enough backing, he hopes to expand the program across the city.
What Prosecutors Say
According to a criminal complaint, Milwaukee police responded to the bar just after midnight and found two gunshot victims in the parking lot. One of them, LaTroy Harris, was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead. An autopsy determined Harris had been shot 15 times, and surveillance images cited in the complaint allegedly show the shooter firing from very close range, FOX6 Milwaukee reports. The complaint also states that the suspected gunman followed Harris as he left the bar and then fled in a black Infiniti SUV.
Investigation, Driver and Reward
Investigators later stopped the suspected getaway vehicle and arrested the driver. Court documents quoted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel say the driver told authorities the shooter ordered him to drive away from the scene and that he later identified Antonio Brown in a photo lineup. The family's attorney has offered a $25,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest, according to WISN 12. Police are continuing to urge anyone with knowledge of the case to contact Milwaukee police or Crime Stoppers.
Legal Stakes
Brown has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide while using a dangerous weapon, first-degree recklessly endangering safety while using a dangerous weapon, and possession of a firearm by a felon, according to prosecutors. A conviction on the first-degree intentional homicide count would carry a mandatory life sentence. Prosecutors' records also list prior felony convictions that could increase his exposure if he is found guilty, per FOX6 Milwaukee.
How to Help
Organizers of "I Will Not Die to Gun Violence" say the quickest way to support the effort is by donating, signing up to volunteer and spreading the word about the reward and the program. Mabra has shared a contact number for volunteers and outreach at 414-306-2107, and organizers are pointing neighbors to established tip lines. Anyone with information about the shooting can call Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360 or Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS, as listed by TMJ4.
