On the morning of August 26, 2021, 19-year-old Mercedes Celeste Butt Celeste, a member of the Menominee tribe known to family as Sadie-Butt, was killed in Milwaukee after a dispute turned violent. The confrontation began when friends of Mercedes damaged the vehicle of her boyfriend, 21-year-old Renzo Rascon-Gamboa, reportedly in retaliation for him having damaged Mercedes’ car. Later that night Mercedes and four female friends were in a car that encountered Rascon-Gamboa, an exchange took place, and a chase followed.

During the pursuit Rascon-Gamboa allegedly stopped his vehicle, exited, and opened fire into the car carrying Mercedes. She was struck and died of her injuries; another 19-year-old woman in the vehicle suffered non-life-threatening wounds. The Milwaukee Police Department identified Rascon-Gamboa as the sole suspect. On September 7, 2021, he was charged with first-degree reckless homicide, use of a dangerous weapon, and first-degree reckless injury, but he fled before being taken into custody. Authorities believe he may have gone to Mexico and alleged sightings have been reported in Veracruz; a warrant remains active.

Did anyone in the Milwaukee area have information about Mercedes, the people with her that night, or Rascon-Gamboa’s whereabouts?