Benjamin L. Simms, 44, was shot and killed in his Milwaukee home on October 11, 2019, during a family dispute. He was resting on the living room couch when his 24-year-old stepson, Melvonta Jones, arrived, confronted him about perceived disrespect toward Jones and his mother, produced a handgun and fired. Simms suffered two gunshot wounds, to the head and the abdomen, and died. The shooting occurred in the presence of Sharita Simms, Benjamin’s wife and Jones’s mother, and the couple’s 7-year-old daughter.

Jones fled but was later arrested and admitted to the shooting, saying he had intended only to scare his stepfather. He was charged with first-degree reckless homicide with use of a dangerous weapon. Jones initially pleaded not guilty, then pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless homicide in February 2020 and received a 22-year prison sentence on July 20, 2020, followed by 8 years of extended supervision and $5,000 restitution. Sharita described the motive as jealousy and feelings of neglect by her son.

Did anyone in the area know Benjamin or the family and have information about tensions leading up to the shooting?