Moe Mily and Unidentified 29-Year-Old Man Fatally Shot on Milwaukee’s North Side in Harambee; No Arrests, Community Left Grieving

Milwaukee, WI — May 31, 2025

Two men—Moe Mily and a yet-to-be publicly identified 29-year-old—were fatally shot on a quiet Saturday evening in Milwaukee’s Harambee neighborhood. The city mourns another double homicide in a year already plagued by gun violence, and a community that prides itself on resilience finds itself again asking: When will it end?

The Shooting: A Timeline of a Tragedy

It was just past 6:00 p.m. when neighbors on North 2nd Street and West Auer Avenue heard the first volley of gunshots. Some mistook it for fireworks—a sound far too common in neighborhoods where celebration and calamity often blur. Others knew better and dove for cover.

At 6:08 p.m., Milwaukee police officers arrived at the scene after multiple 911 calls reported shots fired. On arrival, they found one man—believed to be 29 years old—already lifeless. Another, Moe Mily, was critically injured, his body crumpled near the sidewalk, his breaths shallow. Witnesses say he was clutching his side, bleeding heavily, but still conscious—barely. EMS rushed him to the hospital. He died shortly after arrival.

Their lives were lost within minutes. Their names, at least one of them, now etched into yet another chapter in Milwaukee’s long and bloody history of gun violence.

Who Were the Victims?

Moe Mily has been publicly named by friends and family. Described as charismatic, creative, and deeply involved in his community, Moe was not just another statistic. He was a brother, a son, a friend. He had recently been trying to start a small business—T-shirts and digital art, his passion.

“He was goofy and always showed love,” said a close friend at the scene of a growing memorial. “He wasn’t a gangbanger. He stayed out of that. He was just trying to make it.”

The identity of the second man remains undisclosed, pending notification of next of kin. What is known, according to police and local sources, is that the two victims knew each other. Authorities have not yet stated whether the shooting was targeted or random.

Scene and Witness Accounts

The scene unfolded in broad daylight. Children playing down the block were ushered into homes by frightened parents. Residents emerged after the gunfire subsided to see flashing lights, yellow tape, and two young men either dead or dying.

One witness, who asked not to be named, said she heard “at least 8 or 9 shots,” followed by someone yelling. “It was fast, then silence,” she said. “When I came outside, I saw one body, and another guy gasping. I couldn’t sleep last night.”

Milwaukee Police canvassed the area, collecting shell casings and video footage from nearby homes and businesses. As of this writing, no arrests have been made and no suspects have been named.

Community in Mourning

In Harambee—a neighborhood rich in African American culture, struggle, and pride—grief is often laced with exhaustion. The community knows too well the weight of violence. But each life lost still cuts deep.

At a small vigil near the site of the shooting, candles flickered against the brick wall of a corner store. A hand-drawn poster with Moe Mily’s name hung above a pile of flowers and photos.

Pastor Raymond Ellis of New Direction Baptist Church offered prayers at the vigil. “We are tired of burying our children,” he said. “Tired of asking why. But we will not stop demanding answers. We will not stop loving, even when it hurts.”

Larger Context: A City at a Crossroads

Milwaukee has long struggled with gun violence, particularly in historically marginalized neighborhoods like Harambee, Sherman Park, and Metcalfe Park. In 2022, the city saw a record 214 homicides. While 2023 and early 2024 showed slight decreases, 2025 has seen a troubling uptick, particularly in shootings involving young Black men.

Advocates say the causes are complex: systemic poverty, lack of opportunity, easy access to firearms, and frayed trust between residents and police.

“This isn’t just about who pulled the trigger,” said Alecia Ramirez of 414LIFE, a local violence prevention organization. “This is about the root causes that leave our young people vulnerable—to anger, to retaliation, to despair. Moe didn’t deserve this. Nobody does.”

Police and City Response

Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman released a brief statement urging calm and cooperation from the public.

“We ask the community’s help in bringing justice to the victims’ families. Anyone with information is encouraged to come forward—anonymously if needed.”

Mayor Cavalier Johnson, who has championed public safety reform, said the city will allocate emergency funds toward neighborhood outreach and trauma services for the area. He visited Harambee Sunday morning to meet with community leaders.

“There’s pain here. But there’s also power here,” the mayor said. “We’re not giving up on this neighborhood. We never will.”

Investigation Ongoing

Detectives are reviewing security footage from multiple angles. Police have indicated that the nature of the crime—two men shot in close proximity and possibly in conversation—suggests the shooter may have known the victims.

MPD is urging anyone who may have seen a suspicious person, vehicle, or interaction prior to the shooting to report it. Tipsters can contact Milwaukee Crime Stoppers anonymously at (414) 224-TIPS.

What Comes Next: The Echo of Grief

Funeral arrangements for Moe Mily are being planned by his family, who released a statement asking for privacy and pledging to honor Moe’s life with peace.

“We don’t want retaliation,” the statement read. “We want peace. Moe lived with love and that’s how we’ll remember him.”

Counselors from Milwaukee’s Office of Violence Prevention have been dispatched to local schools and community centers in the area. Young people, in particular, are being offered grief support services.

A rally for peace is being organized next week by Mothers Against Gun Violence, who plan to march from N. 2nd and Auer to City Hall with photos of all homicide victims from 2025 pinned to their shirts.

Conclusion: Not Just Names, But Lives

Moe Mily’s story is no longer his alone. It now belongs to a city trying to make sense of senseless loss. And the name of the second victim—still withheld, but no less significant—deserves to be remembered with dignity, too.

Their deaths are more than headlines. They are shattered families, halted dreams, unanswered calls, and unopened text messages.

Until there is justice, until there is healing, Milwaukee will carry their names—and their absence—with the weight of both grief and hope.