Malik Dontrave Fields, 17, was shot and killed in the early evening of June 5, 2023, near Washington Park in Milwaukee after a Juneteenth event that had been cut short when fights broke out. As people were leaving, gunfire erupted near the park’s playground. A Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office detective at the scene observed an individual fire toward the playground, striking Fields multiple times; the detective fired at the shooter. Fields was taken to a nearby hospital and died of his injuries.

A 17-year-old male suspect fled initially but was quickly taken into custody; officers found more than one firearm on him. Records show the suspect had been arrested on May 20, 2023, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and released on a $750 cash bail. The shooting has intensified community concern about youth violence and how prior arrests were handled.

If anyone was at Washington Park that evening or has information about what led to the shooting, please come forward.