In the early morning of Friday, December 16, 2011, 34-year-old Charles A. Harts was found suffering from gunshot wounds in an alley behind a garage at the rear of 3208 N. 53rd Street in Milwaukee. A passing citizen alerted police at about 1:30 a.m.; officers found Harts unconscious and he was determined to have been shot at that location and to have died in the alley. The death was ruled a homicide.

Officials have not released a motive, and no suspects or arrests have been publicly identified in connection with the killing. The circumstances that led to Harts being in that alley that night remain unclear, and the case is described as cold though the investigation remains open. If anyone knew Charles, saw activity around 3208 N. 53rd Street on the night of December 16, 2011, or has information that could help, please come forward.