'He didn't deserve this:' Family of slain Milwaukee USPS letter carrier demands justice, change
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The family of 44-year-old Aundre Cross, a USPS letter carrier who was murdered on Dec. 9 while on his route, honored his life and demanded justice during a vigil held Sunday afternoon.
Dozens gathered by the 5000 block of N. 65th St., where Cross took his last breath.
"He was a special guy. He was a wonderful guy. He was a godly man," said Jared Tangle, a longtime friend of the victim. "They took a very precious soul from this Earth. To hear what happened, how it happened, with no care, no doubt, no love, no honor of another person's life is just cruel."
Friends, coworkers, and family, lit candles, taped up pictures, and prayed together for peace and healing.
"We're really hurt because Aundre was a good person and he doesn't deserve this," said his older brother Cornelius Mitchell. "We do not deserve this."
Former USPS postal worker Tia R. said Cross was her "best friend."
"It's devastating because like I said, it's a hazardous job and we go out there and we do it every day," Tia R. said.
A friend of Cross' told CBS 58 that he was on the phone with his mother, singing to her, when he was shot and killed.
Cross' niece, Corneisha Mitchell, said the family is in "extreme mourning."
"We are all in a bit of shock, however, we're sticking together. This is the one time where family has to come together and hold each other tight and make sure that we all have each other's back," Mitchell said. "We need everyone to huddle around us and just let us know it's gonna be okay because a lot of us are not okay right now."
Mitchell added that her uncle was "an amazing father" who had a lot of life left to live.
"He can't watch his children open their presents for Christmas," Mitchell said. "That's extremely hard and it's earth-shattering."
Now, Mitchell and the rest of the family are demanding change before anyone else gets hurt.
“Whether it’s stopping service at a certain time, whether it’s making sure they have extra protection for the postal service," Mitchell said. "It’s extremely hard to understand why someone who was literally just working, doing what they’re supposed to do, as a citizen be killed."
Police are still searching for the suspect(s) involved in the homicide. The suspect vehicle is described as a silver Audi Q5 with tinted windows.
Officials are offering a $50,000 dollar reward for information that leads to their arrest.
If you know anything, please call the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at (877) 876-2455. At the prompt, say "Law Enforcement" and reference case #3927094.
You can also call Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7360 or email [email protected].