Family of 66th and Lisbon homicide victim mourns after weekend of violence

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A 19-year-old woman was murdered near 66th and Lisbon Saturday evening, April 23, family identifying the woman as Leah Davis.

"She really didn't do anything to no one, like she was a very sweet girl. she didn't deserve this at all, it's crazy," family friend Lakeshia Hudson said. 

Anger, frustration and pain could be felt at her vigil the next day on Sunday, April 24. 

"I'll never talk to her again."

Police say Davis died on scene. They are still trying to figure out what led up to this tragedy. Davis' family says her murder stems from domestic violence.

"I am sick of losing my family with domestic violence, we really need to stop all of this. It's not that much love in the world to be wanting to kill somebody else's child." 

Davis' death is part of an unfortunate trend, an increasing number of women and girls killed in the streets of Milwaukee. Milwaukee police say nine women and five girls have been killed between Jan.1 and April 21 this year. This, compared to five women and one girl in 2021 during the same time frame. Davis is now added to that roster.

"We are living with high levels of violence across the board and women and girls are being murdered at a higher rate in particular women of color and girls of color. What we need is more capacity, more neighborhood approaches We need community people who are prepared and we need to get the message out that there's help available," Carmen Pitre said. She is the president of Sojourner Family Peace Center.

She says the city is in the midst of an epidemic. There were 51 domestic violence related deaths in 2020 and 20 percent were children. There were 40 murders in 2021 and 10 deaths in 2022 so far. 

"We've been noticing violence going up since the summer of 2019," Pitre said. 

Davis' family hopes her death sends a message to everyone across Milwaukee.

"Check on your strong friends. Leah was going through some things and we were there for each other. so make sure y'all be there for one another during this trying time." 

Police say one person is in custody. Charges will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.