Derrick Ball

Derrick D. Ball, a man remembered by those who loved him as sweet, kind, lovable, and goofy, was a devoted father deeply involved in the lives of his children. At 46 years old, the Black man's life was tragically taken in a burst of violence on a Monday afternoon in his hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His death on October 24, 2016, left a profound and lasting void for his family and friends, who gathered to mourn him at a funeral service on November 10, 2016.

The fatal encounter occurred in broad daylight, just after 2:00 p.m., in the neighborhood near North 24th Street and West Auer Avenue. The incident was not a random act of violence but the culmination of a heated family dispute. According to police reports and witness statements, the conflict began when Derrick's girlfriend, who was Devontae Turner's aunt, confronted the 19-year-old about an affair he was allegedly having. The situation quickly escalated, with Turner reportedly pulling out a handgun and pointing it directly in his aunt's face. Derrick stepped in to defend his girlfriend, questioning whether Turner was truly prepared to shoot his own aunt over the argument.

The confrontation spilled out onto the street. There, Turner allegedly aimed the gun at Derrick and pulled the trigger, but the weapon failed to discharge. As Derrick turned and ran down the street to escape, Turner fired again. This time, the gun worked. A woman who happened to be in the area tracking her stolen car witnessed the shocking event unfold. She later told reporters that the shooter "just casually shot him," firing what she thought were three or four rounds. She watched as Derrick fell to the ground and the shooter fled the scene, leaving Derrick's girlfriend to collapse over his body, screaming in anguish.

First responders from the Milwaukee Police and Fire Departments arrived quickly, but their life-saving efforts were in vain. Derrick Ball was pronounced dead at the scene. A later criminal complaint would detail the severity of his injuries, noting he had suffered multiple gunshot wounds, including to his neck, shoulder, and arm. His killing was one of three separate homicides that stunned the city of Milwaukee within a two-hour span that day, contributing to a troubling surge in gun violence that year.

The Milwaukee Police Department immediately began an investigation and identified Devontae Turner as the suspect. An alert was issued to the public, asking for help in locating him. Turner, who was from Chicago but had family and friends in the Milwaukee area, was described as a Black male, standing about 5’11” tall and weighing 150 pounds. The search for him did not last long.

Following his capture, Devontae Turner was charged in connection with the homicide. The legal process moved forward, and in August 2017, Turner, then 20 years old, appeared in court. He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree reckless homicide for the death of his aunt's boyfriend. A judge accepted the plea and sentenced him to serve 14 years in prison. The case, which began with a volatile family argument, concluded with a prison sentence, bringing legal closure to a senseless act that cost Derrick Ball his life.