Milwaukee man sentenced in shooting death of 2 teens on Christmas Day
MILWAUKEE (CBS58) -- An 18-year-old charged in connection with the shooting death of two teenagers on Christmas Day in Milwaukee was sentenced Tuesday, July 8. A Milwaukee judge ruled that Quintarez Morris will spend five years behind bars.
A double shooting on December 25, 2025 took the lives of 15-year-old Exziel Rivera, and 18-year-old Nayah Vasquez. It happened around 11:25 a.m. near the intersection of 37th and Scott, when, according to the prosecution, Morris was driving as Jeremiah Taylor shot the teenagers.
"None of our families will ever enjoy Christmas ever again because of them," shared Melynda Rivera in the courtroom, mother of Exziel.
Quintarez Morris
Nearby security video from a neighbor shows the moment the teens were sitting in a Kia on the side of the street as a Malibu traveled past with a man hanging out of the front passenger window. The complaint says the suspect fired the weapon at the Kia, and the Kia rolled forward, hitting a parked car. Morris claims he was not driving but does admit he burned the vehicle that was used.
Morris ended up pleading guilty to harboring or aiding a felon. "I do want to announce to the court and community that I am aware, and I take full responsibility for my action and my involvement, and I truly do apologize... I do want to let the court know that i was in the wrong place at the wrong time, around the wrong people. If i could change all of that and go back in time, i wouldn't have made myself a part of this situation any kind of way. I'm currently 18 years old, and I understand that I could be easily influenced by others if I'm hanging around the wrong people."
Morris was already out on bail at the time, for separate charges related to 2nd degree recklessly endangering safety and possessing cocaine.
Exziel died at the scene, while Nayah later died at a hospital.
Judge Wagner tried to have a conversation with Morris, asking him about his involvement, but Morris didn't answer many of the questions from the Judge. Judge Wagner acknowledged this by saying "when the court does in fact sentence you sir, it doesn't appear to be much of a conversation."
Melynda shared her frustration with the judge's ruling, saying, "with all due respect, it’s [expletive]. It gives other people who do this to other people‘s children that I’ll be slapped on my wrist and be back in 5 years."
Rivera admits her son was buying marijuana, and she was working with him to be better. But she says Morris and Taylor should take responsibility for their irreparable actions. "One day, will I be able to forgive him? Possibly. But as a mother, I hate him with every fiber of my being. Him and Jeremiah. There is no takebacks for what you did. There is no amount of 'I'm sorry' that will cover the life of my son."
The other suspect in the case, Jeremiah Taylor, has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide and has a warrant out for his arrest. If you know where he is, contact Milwaukee Police or Crime Stoppers.
The families of Rivera and Vasquez created GoFundMe accounts to help pay for their memorial and funeral costs.