Milwaukee 11-year-old boy fatally shot; 13-year-old in custody

11-year-old Deon Sargent was shot and killed during a robbery near 68th and Silver Spring in Milwaukee on Tuesday night.

MILWAUKEE - Family and friends are mourning the loss of 11-year-old Deon Sargent, who police say was shot and killed during a robbery Tuesday evening, Sept. 16, on Milwaukee’s northwest side.

What we know:

The shooting happened around 6:40 p.m. near 68th and Silver Spring.

Deon Sargent

Police identified the victim in the robbery as Sargent, who was known to loved ones as "Mister."

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"Dancer of the family, the protector," said his cousin, Canience Haynes.

"He was the Mister man, he was the man of the house," said his mother, Brittany Bee. "I miss him hugging me, I miss his smile, I miss his happiness."

Bee said the loss has not fully set in.

"He was 11-years-old, 11. I don't know. I don't know how to feel."

Police said a 13-year-old boy was arrested in connection to the shooting.

Dig deeper:

Sargent played youth football for Milwaukee’s CLE Panthers for the past three years.

"It's a shock. Why him?" said Corey Collins, vice president of the team.

"He had the heart of a lion and a heart of a giant," said Derricka Wesley, team administrator.

Carvell Brooks, CEO and head coach of the CLE Panthers, said the organization was created to help prevent tragedies like this.

Deon Sargent

"That's the reason we started the CLE Panthers ‘Changing Lives through Entertainment’ to prevent stuff like this," Brooks said. "So, we're going to keep working with the community, we're going to keep trying to make a change."

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Police said Sargent’s death is part of a troubling trend – 15 children have died from gun violence in Milwaukee so far this year, two more than this time in 2024.

What's next:

Sargent’s family said they still don’t know exactly what happened and are demanding answers. They plan to hold a vigil for him at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 17.

"My baby didn't deserve to get his taken, for any other circumstance," Bee said.

Milwaukee mayor speaks about shooting death of boy, reckless driving that killed 3

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Milwaukee Superintendent Brenda Cassellius spoke on Wednesday, Sept. 17 in reaction to the shooting death of an 11-year-old boy and the three deaths that resulted from a reckless driving incident.

The Source: Information in this post was provided by the Milwaukee Police Department.

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