A beloved Milwaukee barber is dead and a 64-year-old man is now the target of an arrest warrant, with prosecutors accusing him of pulling the trigger in a broad-daylight shooting. Authorities say 37-year-old Pierre Smith was shot on April 9 near the intersection of Lisbon Avenue and West Burleigh Street and later pronounced dead.
What police allege
Prosecutors have charged Fred Shabazz, who also uses the name Fred Morris Jefferson, with first-degree reckless homicide and being a felon in possession of a firearm, and a judge has approved an arrest warrant in the case. According to a criminal complaint, surveillance cameras recorded the shooting, and investigators later searched a van linked to the suspect, recovering prescription bottles and bills with Shabazz’s name on them. Police say a relative and another woman identified Shabazz as the gunman in the security video, according to CBS 58.
Victim and community reaction
Friends and relatives describe Smith as a self-taught barber who built a steady clientele and pushed people in his neighborhood to better themselves, and his killing has shaken Milwaukee’s tight-knit barbershop community. Family members confirmed his identity after the April 9 shooting, which police say happened around 5:10 p.m. near Lisbon and Burleigh, as reported by FOX6. Loved ones have shared a GoFundMe campaign to help cover his funeral expenses.
Video and investigation details
The criminal complaint states that video footage shows a person getting out of a van, walking up to Smith and another man as they headed into a barbershop, and firing several shots at Smith. Officers conducted a follow-up search of the same vehicle the next day and say they found additional items that tied the van to the suspect. Milwaukee police are asking anyone who might know where Shabazz is, or who has information about the case, to contact detectives as they work to execute the outstanding warrant, per CBS 58.
Legal exposure for the accused
Under Wisconsin law, first-degree reckless homicide applies when a person’s conduct is alleged to show an “utter disregard for human life” and it is charged as a Class B felony. That classification carries a potential bifurcated sentence with a total maximum of up to 60 years, although any real sentence would depend on the final charges, possible enhancements, and the judge’s decision. Legal commentary from local defense attorneys notes that surveillance footage, eyewitness identifications, and the defendant’s prior record are likely to shape how both sides handle the case in court, according to analysis from Cafferty & Scheidegger.
How to help investigators
Anyone with information about the shooting or the whereabouts of the suspect is urged to call the Milwaukee Police Department at 414-935-7360 or Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS. Tips can also be sent anonymously through the P3 Tips app, and authorities stress that members of the public should not approach the suspect but should contact police right away. Local outlets that first covered the shooting and the subsequent warrant report that investigators are still actively chasing leads, and anyone who knows something is encouraged to reach out to Milwaukee police or Crime Stoppers, per FOX6.
