Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week: Family pleads for answers in young woman's death near Sherman Park

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Months after graduating from a Milwaukee high school, a young woman was gunned down near Sherman Park. Her family is now pleading with the community to let go of the "no snitching code" and help them find her killer. 

"Cynthia was sweet. She was so excited when she graduated high school she wanted to go off to college. She had plans," said Cynthia Lemon's aunt, Stephanie Saulisberry. "She wanted to do day care, nursing, anything."

Plans were cut short for 18-year-old Cynthia Lemon on Aug. 23, when she was shot to death near 45th and Locust. Her body was left laying in the front yard of a home. 

"She didn't deserve that. It hurts so bad losing Cynthia," said Saulisberry.

Lemon's aunt, Stephanie Saulisberry, said she talked to her niece a little more than two hours before she was killed. 

"I know the last time I talked to her was like 3:45 p.m. that day. She was leaving Washington [High School] going to pick up her work check so whatever happened from there I really don't know." 

The Milwaukee Police Department says they aren't exactly sure what happened either, but they believe an argument may have led to Lemon's death. 

"It is a possibility that this might be related to some high school drama that occurred earlier in the day, possibly at Washington High School," said Milwaukee Police Department Detective Jerimiah Jacks. "Witnesses who were outside heard a female appear to be talking on the phone that she was going to fight the whole block and then they heard the gunshot. Not a lot of witnesses that were willing to come forward during the initial investigation."

Lemon's family is hoping for the same thing. 

"Nobody wants to say anything. If it was Cynthia, people that know her, know that Cynthia would have been ready to vouch if something happened to one of her friends. And nobody speaking up. Nobody," said Saulisberry. "Nobody heard anything, nobody is saying anything then when you ask them, 'have you talked to the police?' They don't want to talk to you anymore." 

The shooting was the first of four in six hours on Aug. 23. All of the victims were under the age of 21. 

"Why are we doing this? This is so unnecessary," said Saulisberry. "We need to put these guns down. We need to stop this violence. These babies are dying younger and younger every day and it's so sad. I just pray to God that I get justice for my niece. I want it. I deserve it. She deserves it."

If you know anything If you know anything about who killed 18-year-old Cynthia Lemon, call Milwaukee Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS.

You can also submit a tip through the P3 Tips app.

And remember, saying what you know about a crime is not snitching. It's holding people accountable that are hurting your community and giving families who've lost loved ones justice.

When you come forward, you don't give any information about yourself, and there's no way to track you.

If your tip leads to an arrest, you'll get a cash reward.