Victim identified in southwest side double shooting; investigators, relatives say it was domestic violence

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Authorities on Thursday, Jan. 25 identified the woman shot and killed in an act of domestic violence the previous night. Milwaukee Police said the suspect then shot himself and added he remained hospitalized in critical condition. 

A release from the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's office stated the victim was 42-year-old Shelley Kosik. 

When reached at her residence Thursday, Kosik's mother, Marjorie Butler, confirmed the victim was her daughter. Butler said her daughter was "a great person," but declined to do an on-camera interview at the time because she was talking to the medical examiner's office about recovering Kosik's body.

Milwaukee Police identified the suspect as a 42-year-old man. CBS 58 is not identifying the suspect because he has not yet been charged, but relatives at the man's parents' house said he was in grave condition. 

Carmen Pitre, CEO of the Sojourner Family Peace Center, said the incident was a reminder of how domestic violences affects far more people than those directly involved.

"No family wants to be where these two families are today," Pitre said. "We need to wrap our arms around them as a community."

Data from the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission show domestic violence murders ranged between 15 and 18 per year since 2019. The one exception was 2022 when the city recorded 24 domestic violence homicides. 

Pitre said Sojourner tracks domestic violence across all of Milwaukee County. According to Sojourner's data, there 30 domestic violence murders in 2019. That number in 2020 rose sharply to 51, and it has remained elevated since; there were 40 in 2021 and 49 in 2022.

Pitre said Sojourner includes incidents that go beyond the statutory definition of domestic violence. For example, it counts violence that occurs between people who were dating, regardless of whether they were living together. She added homicides are the "tip of the iceberg" because often times, a murder only happens after there had been a series of non-fatal violence.

"You know people who are not talking to you about this issue, who are in relationships that are not healthy, where they're being hurt," Pitre said. "And, statistically, you're more likely also to know someone who's hurting others, so it's right there all around you."

Pitre said about 9,100 different people received aid from Sojourner last year. That assistance ranged from helping survivors file for restraining orders, programming for victims' kids and shelter services.

Pitre said, as of Thursday night, 44 women and children were staying at Sojourner's shelter.

If you are a victim of domestic violence or know someone who is, the 24-hour crisis line for Sojourner is (414) 933-2722. The emergency text number is (414) 877-8100.