MILWAUKEE — A 10-year-old is dead after being shot early Friday morning near South 21st Street and Orchard Street in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Police say the shooting happened just after 12:30 a.m.
Family spoke to Mary Jo Ola and identified the victim as Isdennyeliz Ortiz. Ortiz's teenage sister said she turned 10 in April and enjoyed making Youtube videos. The young girl was looking forward to an upcoming trip to Wisconsin Dells.
Family tells TMJ4 that Isdennyeliz was sleeping in bed while people upstairs were handling a gun. They say it went off and gunfire hit the child. MPD would only disclose that shooting happened inside of the home and that the child did not appear to be targeted.
Criminal charges were filed against Javier Rodriguez, 18. He's facing one count of second degree reckless homicide while using a dangerous weapon. Court documents confirm that a bullet traveled through the ceiling of an upper floor into the bedroom where Isdennyeliz was sleeping. Investigating officers found several firearms in a closet of the home.
Police confirm Isdennyeliz and Rodriguez were related. In the criminal complaint, Rodriguez admitted to Isdennyeliz's mom that "It's my fault. I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
Read the full criminal complaint below.
A tow truck was also seen taking two cars away from the scene. TMJ4 has been told the cars are related to the shooting investigation.
"Now we have a family who's 10-year-old daughter is not here. How much more do we have to keep telling people leave guns alone," said Marty Calderon, a member of Milwaukee's Promise Keepers.
The Promise Keepers are part of the City of Milwaukee's community outreach. Calderon and others visited the neighborhood on Friday to offer Isdennyeliz's family support.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Homicide Database, 11 percent of homicide victims in 2023 were between 10 and 17 years old. Already in 2024, 12 percent of homicide victims are in that age range.
Teneen Rucker, with the non-profit organization Safe and Sound, is getting ready to host a gun violence awareness event next weekend. Rucker says it will offer support to people impacted by the issue and encourage a safe summer.
"We have to give people the knowledge of how to safely handle a gun, how to safely protect yourself," Rucker stated.
Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa issued a statement in response to the deadly shooting.
It said in part:
"There is no other way to describe this horrific incident other than to say it is utterly unacceptable. I am devastated for the family who suffered this loss, and my heart is with them at this time.
Far too many young people continue to be impacted by gun violence across our city. As a community, we should be working to foster an environment that uplifts our youth as opposed to placing them in harm’s way. These gun related incidents are wholly preventable, and we must to better to stop them."
Criminal Complaint: Rodriguez, Javier by TMJ4 News on Scribd
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