'Somebody knows something': Family of 18-year-old killed in Washington Park seeks answers

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The family of an 18-year-old killed in Washington Park is looking for answers. 

Winfred Jackson Jr. has been identified as the victim in the shooting. 

"I think there’s like 10 stages of grief, I think we even developed another stage of grief, that’s how hard it has been for this family," said his aunt Leatrice Martin. 

According to the Milwaukee Police Department, officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert of a shooting in Washington Park near the lagoon around 8:29 p.m. on March 17. When officers arrived, they found Jackson in the water. 

"The detectives stated that they got there within 90 seconds of shots being fired, that they were notified about, and they retrieved him from out of the Washington Park lagoon," said Martin. 

Police say they are seeking "unknown suspects."

"For this to happen to him and we don’t have answers, we don’t know. I’m thinking it’s still a dream, I have not been asleep. I have not been asleep since March 17," said Martin. 

Martin said Jackson loved football and basketball growing up. She said he had plans to join the Army and dreamed of seeing the world. 

"I want people to understand, this could have been your nephew, this could have been your son, this could have been your brother. Somebody needs to step up and speak up, cause he deserves that much. Let his soul, let his spirit rest," said Martin. 

While his family looks for answers, they are also trying to mourn him at a time when large groups of people can't be together because of the coronavirus outbreak. 

"We cannot have a church funeral the way that we would like, we really can’t say any remarks, we really can’t say anything, we cannot have a proper burial for him," said Martin. 

For his visitation, Martin said, only eight people, in addition to the musician and the pastor, will allowed to stream in at one time.

She said only three people will be able to attend his burial. 

"Only three people can go, how do you choose the three people to go? You know, to say goodbye to him," said Martin, But who wants to say goodbye to him when his life should have never been cut short?"

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Milwaukee Police Department at 414-935-7360 or Milwaukee Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS.