On a summer morning in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the life of Idris L. Purdy, a 39-year-old Black man, was tragically cut short by a single gunshot. His death on August 24, 2018, came during a period of intense gun violence in the city, which saw 17 homicides in just 24 days. While little has been shared publicly about Idris’s personal life or his family, it is known that he worked in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) trade. His life ended not on a random street corner, but inside a residence during a heated argument that escalated with sudden and irreversible violence.
The fatal encounter unfolded inside a home near the intersection of North 15th Street and West Clarke Street. According to witness testimony and court records, Idris was on a couch in the living room when he became involved in an argument with another man, Daniel Leo Williams. The owner of the home had reportedly asked Idris to leave, but he refused. The argument intensified, and Williams went into a bedroom to retrieve a handgun that a witness stated was always kept by the mattress.
As Williams returned with the weapon, Idris was heard saying, "I ain't scared of that." Williams later told investigators he only intended to scare Idris by cocking the gun. However, in that tense moment, the gun discharged. A witness heard the shot and then heard Idris scream that he had been hit. The single bullet struck him in the groin, causing a fatal injury. The witness confronted Williams, asking, "What the (expletive) did you do that for?" Williams replied that he did not mean to do it and acknowledged that the gun did not have a safety.
In the immediate aftermath, Williams claimed he called 911 for help. He told authorities that when the dispatcher instructed him to apply pressure to the wound, he "froze" and was unable to act. Believing Idris had already died because he had gone silent, Williams said he went outside and tried to flag down the arriving fire department, but they did not approach the house until police were on the scene. Williams then fled, leaving behind a black backpack containing his belongings. He would remain a fugitive for the next eight months.
Milwaukee Police Department detectives investigating the homicide found crucial evidence inside the home, including the backpack and a fired 9mm Luger cartridge casing on the couch where Idris had been shot. Their investigation led them to identify Daniel Williams as the suspect. In April 2019, after his capture, Williams was formally charged with the killing. He had a prior felony conviction from 2006 for theft, which made his possession of a firearm illegal.
The case went to trial, and on August 6, 2019, a jury found Daniel Leo Williams guilty of two counts: second-degree reckless homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. On August 19, 2019, a judge sentenced him for his crimes. For the homicide charge, Williams received a sentence of ten years in prison followed by five years of extended supervision. For the firearm charge, he was sentenced to a consecutive term of three years in prison and three years of extended supervision. In total, his sentence amounted to thirteen years of initial confinement and eight years of extended supervision. He was given credit for 134 days already served. As of August 2019, the legal chapter of Idris Purdy's homicide was closed, with his killer held accountable for the life he took.
