Elyon Benton

Elyon Benton, an 18-year-old known to friends and family as “Tank,” was remembered as a recent graduate who was “always happy, always smiling.” A lifelong friend, Mariunn Davis, recalled how they were all trying to live their lives and make money, questioning the violence that took his life. Those who knew Elyon and his mother now seek justice for the young man they lost.

On the evening of Tuesday, November 10, 2026, Elyon was outside the United Petro Mart near the intersection of Appleton Avenue and Hampton Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Around 8:02 p.m., gunfire erupted. Surveillance cameras at the gas station reportedly captured an altercation that preceded about 15 shots being fired. Elyon was fatally wounded. Two other men, aged 29 and 39, were also struck by bullets and were transported to local hospitals for their injuries. The store manager said the three victims were familiar faces who would often come into the store to talk and joke around. After the shooting, one of the injured men managed to get inside the gas station to seek safety.

Signs of the shooting were still visible the next day. A bullet had gone through a window of the gas station, and another had hit a television inside. The store manager, Shubh Tiwana, described the incident as horrifying, stating that violence like this was not something his family had experienced in the two and a half years they had owned the business. He turned the surveillance footage over to the Milwaukee Police Department but chose not to release it publicly out of respect for the victims and their families.

Milwaukee Police Department investigators, including a forensic unit, were at the scene the following day, collecting evidence and the surveillance video as they worked to understand the sequence of events. Authorities have not released details on what may have led to the shooting and have not publicly identified any suspects.

In the wake of the shooting, community activist Tracey Dent expressed concern about a graphic video circulating on social media that showed Elyon lying at the scene. He urged the public to consider the family’s pain before sharing the images and pleaded against any retaliatory violence. "Be there for the family," Dent said. "Please do not retaliate. Any information, either call Crime Stoppers or talk to the police department, because I know the family wants justice." Elyon's friend Mariunn Davis also called for an end to the violence, saying, "we gotta stop the violence for sure, we’re killing each other, we’re all brothers."

A friend of the family, Leonora Lugo, said that all they could do was pray and seek justice through the legal system. "All we can scream is just justice, all we can do is let the courts deal with it," she said, affirming that they would be present for all court dates.

As of November 2026, the investigation into Elyon Benton's homicide is ongoing, and no arrests have been made. Police are still searching for the person or persons responsible. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Milwaukee Police Department at 414-935-7360. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS (8477).