A Milwaukee father of three was shot to death during a dispute over a PlayStation, according to a criminal complaint. Darrius S. Shelton, 21, of Milwaukee, is charged with reckless homicide in the death of Marris Virgil, 37, who was killed Friday evening near 12th and W. Keefe Avenue. Virgil's family said he had recently begun turning his life around.
What Police Say Happened
The complaint alleges that Shelton had been playing PlayStation with Virgil's sons when Shelton and Virgil argued over ownership of the console. Virgil had bought it, while Shelton had paid to have it repaired, according to the complaint. Shelton is accused of pointing a firearm at Virgil's long-term romantic partner and threatening to shoot her. The complaint says Virgil was shot after his partner turned away; WISN-TV reported that she witnessed the shooting.
Responding officers found Virgil suffering from gunshot wounds to his chest and face, according to the complaint. An autopsy later determined that he had been shot four times. The complaint also says officers found two young boys and a teenage girl on the front porch, with the boys identified as Shelton's cousins. Shelton is accused of fleeing after the shooting.
Family Remembers a Father Turning His Life Around
Milwaukee police said Virgil was killed at about 6:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of W. Keefe Avenue, as reported by TMJ4. He died at the scene. Family members described Virgil as a devoted father of three and a family-oriented man, and said he had recently started a new job and was working to change his life.
Police said the circumstances of the shooting remained under investigation in the days afterward and that they were seeking a known suspect, according to the same TMJ4 account. The criminal complaint later identified that suspect as Shelton, a Milwaukee resident.
Milwaukee Homicide Context
According to Wisconsin Public Radio's account of Milwaukee Police Department data, Milwaukee recorded 142 homicides in 2025, up from 132 in 2024. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that homicides rose by the same figures even as overall violent crime declined; those citywide statistics do not establish what caused Virgil's killing.
Charges and Potential Prison Time
Shelton is charged with reckless homicide, according to WISN. He could face up to 60 years in prison if convicted, the station reported. The case remains pending in court.
