Neighbors Say Deadly Milwaukee Teen Shooting Could Have Been Prevented After Repeated Safety Warnings
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN — The fatal shooting of 19-year-old Jarvis Phillips-Willis near 48th Street and Fond du Lac Avenue has left Milwaukee residents frustrated and heartbroken — not only because of the tragedy itself, but because they say it could have been prevented.
Neighbors claim they had repeatedly reported safety concerns and unlicensed gatherings at the same building where Phillips-Willis was killed on Saturday night, days before the shooting occurred.
Repeated Warnings Ignored Before Deadly Shooting
Timothy Scott, who lives directly behind the property, said he had called, emailed, and even sent video to the Milwaukee Police Department’s District Seven documenting large gatherings and disturbances at the building earlier in the week.
“I called them, I emailed them, and I sent them this video of this gathering on Wednesday night — and they never responded,” Scott told TMJ4 News.
After the shooting, which also left two other teenagers injured, Scott texted police:
“Two people shot. I wish you would have responded to my messages.”
Scott said he believes stronger enforcement could have saved lives.
“This could have been preventable. I asked them to check into this so we don’t have this kind of situation, and now somebody got killed — another one of our kids.”
A Neighborhood on Edge
Scott, a 25-year resident, said he could tell trouble was brewing the night of the shooting.
“I said, ‘This is the shoot-’em-up crowd,’ and about a half hour later, I heard a pop — a shot. Then I heard kids screaming and running down the alley.”
The building, registered under Lahal LLC, has been a long-standing source of complaints. Neighbors say it frequently hosted unlicensed events and parties that drew large crowds and noise late into the night.
Police confirmed to TMJ4 that they were aware of the ongoing issues and had been working with the landlord to address them. In fact, officers issued citations to the tenant just one night before the shooting for hosting an unlicensed event.
The department also said the landlord had begun the eviction process, but it wasn’t completed in time to prevent Saturday’s tragedy.
Community Calls for Action
As police continue to search for the shooter, neighbors say their concerns have gone unheard for too long.
“Our young people don’t have to keep dying coming out of a spot like this,” Scott said.
Residents say they plan to keep speaking out until meaningful changes are made to stop violence in their community and hold negligent property owners accountable.
Police have not announced any arrests in connection with the shooting. Investigators are urging anyone with information to contact Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7360 or Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-8477.
Jarvis Phillips-Willis, who relatives said was working to turn his life around, is being remembered by his family as a loving son, nephew, and friend — another young life lost to Milwaukee’s ongoing struggle with gun violence.
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