Well-known Milwaukee photographer gunned down outside Mr. J's Lounge

MILWAUKEE (CBS58)--The Milwaukee community is grieving the loss of a popular photographer. Thirty-two year old Robb Smith was shot and killed near ridge and Fond du lac. Family members say Robb Smith was great father. He loved taking family photos and traveling. Smith leaves behind a wife and 8 children.

“It’s really devastating, I don’t wish this on anybody, you never imagine you talking to your kid and then next he’s gone.” Nicole Young said. She is Smith's mother. 

Police say Smith was a photographer at a sweet sixteen party in the 4600 block of West Fond du lac. When he left the building, he was shot and killed. It happened around 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning, Dec 19. However, family members tell a different story. They say Smith was leaving Mr. J’s lounge on Fond du lac when he was gunned down.

“He had just left the sweet sixteen party and went to Mr. J’s, so it happened outside of Mr. J’s."

As Milwaukee Police put the pieces together, Young says she has loss the Christmas spirit. 

“It’s the worst Christmas gift ever.”

Telling stories using his camera, Smith was a well-known photographer in Milwaukee. 

“He touched a lot of peoples’ lives, he was an artist, he did a lot of community events," Young said.

Smith fathered Cierra Woods’ six-year-old daughter."

“I’ll miss him and I love him very much," Robbi Smith said. 

“She’s not going to have her dad anymore, she’s not going to be able to Facetime him when she wants to, call him when she wants to.” Cierra Woods said. 

Woods say she saw Smith at Mr. J’s that night, right before he was shot.

“His last words were Happy birthday and then we parted our ways.”

Reggie Moore, the Director of Milwaukee’s Office of Violence Prevention says he’s met Smith at several events.

“It’s a tragic loss to our community whenever anyone is injured or killed in our city that has a effect and an impact. But particularly when someone at that level of skill and talent is loss that is a significant loss to our city.”

Smith’s mom says she was sent cellphone video and it shows several people at the scene shooting.

She says someone knows something and she wants them to speak up.

If you have any information about this case, you’re asked to call CrimeStoppers at 414-224-TIPS.