Nasif Bowie, a 25-year-old Black man, was remembered by friends and family as an ambitious and caring person with a promising life ahead of him. His friend, Zarieanna McCoy, said he had "such a bright future," adding, "He really was on his business. He went to school, got his degree, he wanted to go into real estate, he was doing a notary business." His sister, Rickell Lovley, lamented, "He didn't deserve this. He had so many people who cared about him."
On the night of November 21, 2024, Bowie was at a "Friendsgiving" gathering at a residence near Houston and Congress in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The celebration turned tragic when another guest, Kwon Burdine, became angry over money he claimed had been stolen from him. Burdine locked the doors, insisting that no one could leave until his cash was returned. According to witness testimony from his trial, the situation escalated violently when Burdine began hitting Bowie's 23-year-old friend and then pulled out a handgun.
Witnesses testified that Burdine shot both Bowie and his friend, left the home, and then returned to fire again. Bowie died from his injuries at the scene; his friend survived but was seriously wounded.
When police arrived, they found nine 9mm shell casings inside the residence. The investigation quickly pointed to Burdine, as his driver's license was found in the bathroom and his fingerprints were recovered from a tequila bottle at the scene. On November 26, the Milwaukee Police Department Fugitive Apprehension Unit tracked Burdine to a home in Green Bay and arrested him. A Glock 9x19 handgun was also recovered. During an interview, Burdine admitted he brought the gun to the party, lost his money, and locked the door. He claimed the gun fell from his pocket during a physical altercation and discharged multiple times as he and Bowie struggled over it.
Burdine was initially charged with first-degree reckless homicide and held on a $200,000 bond. The case proceeded to trial, where a jury heard testimony that contradicted Burdine's account of a struggle. In February 2026, a Milwaukee County jury found Kwon Burdine guilty of all charges, including first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
In May 2026, Burdine was sentenced to prison, with eligibility for extended supervision after serving 50 years. After the guilty verdict, Bowie's mother expressed her relief. "I'm so thankful, it's been a year and maybe three months now we're just getting justice for my son," she said. "Some families don't get this... I can't bring my son back; we'll have a little more peace." The case was officially closed with the conviction and sentencing in May 2026.
