The 17-year-old shot and killed by another 17-year-old at Washington Park on Wednesday night has been identified as Sherrone D. Thornton Jr., according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Thornton was shot and killed at the park during a Juneteenth evening event that followed the daylong Juneteenth Peace Day Another teen, a 15-year-old Milwaukee boy, was also injured during this shooting.
The suspect, a 17-year-old from Milwaukee, is in custody. He was charged in May with felon possession of a firearm and had posted $750 cash bail. The Sheriff’s Office said it will refer charges to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office in upcoming days.
According to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, the shooting took place around 8:53 p.m. following a report of 50 young people who were about to fight.
During a briefing at the scene Wednesday night, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Daniel Hughes said law enforcement officials encountered the alleged shooter firing a weapon indiscriminately near the intersection of North 42nd Street and West Lloyd Street towards the playground.
Hughes said the suspect struck Thornton multiple times, and despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. His death has been ruled a homicide, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office.
This story will be updated.
Contact Adrienne Davis at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.
