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Milwaukee to surpass 100 murders in 2024, church holds memorial service for murder victims

Families of murder victims in Milwaukee gathered at a local church on Wednesday to observe National Murder Victims Remembrance Day after the city earlier this week surpassed the 100-murder-by-2024 mark. The Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church hosted the event for the second year in a row. About a dozen families who lost loved ones to murder attended the service and mourned together in speeches and prayers. One of those affected by the violence is Debra Gillispie. Her son, Kirk Bickham Jr., was shot and killed in 2003. “Kirk had just come home from college. He had graduated and was out celebrating,” Gillispie said. Bickham Jr. had recently started a new job and was out with his two friends the night he was shot, Gillispie said. “When you wake up the next day, you think it was a nightmare until you realize it actually happened. And it all starts over,” she said. “There is hope. Don't give up,” said Rahdae Redd, interim pastor of the Metropolitan Missionary, who launched the 2023 event. “Don't throw in the towel. There is life on the other side of grief and sorrow.” Also on the podium Wednesday was Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman with a call to action. “We all have a responsibility to care for one another. Are we not the keepers of our brothers? Are we not the shepherds of our souls?” Norman addressed the audience. This week saw Milwaukee's 100th murder of the year. However, the year-to-date total is lower than the past two years. According to the Milwaukee police crime map, there were 165 homicides in 2022, 128 in 2023 and 102 so far this year.But the families in attendance Wednesday, who know how painful each killing is, said one is too many.“When a community comes together and says, we remember your loved one. We want to honor your loss … I mean, what a beautiful thing,” Gillispie said.Gillispie said Milwaukee police caught the man who killed her son, and he is serving three life sentences.In the meantime, Gillispie founded Mothers Against Gun Violence, an organization that supports families of murder victims in Milwaukee through art.She said the work helps her heal and honor her son.

MILWAUKEE —

Families of murder victims in Milwaukee gathered at a local church on Wednesday to mark National Murder Victims Remembrance Day after the city surpassed the 100-homicide mark in 2024 earlier this week.

The Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church hosted the event for the second year in a row. About a dozen families who had lost loved ones to murder attended the service and mourned together in speeches and prayers.

One of those affected by the violence is Debra Gillispie. Her son Kirk Bickham Jr. was shot and killed in 2003.

“Kirk had just come home from college. He had graduated and was out celebrating,” Gillispie said.

According to Gillispie, Bickham Jr. recently took a new job and was out with his two friends the night he was shot.

“When you wake up the next day, you think it was a nightmare until you realize it actually happened. And then it all starts again,” she said.

“There is hope. Don't give up,” said Rahdae Redd, interim pastor of the Metropolitan Missionary, who launched the 2023 event. “Don't throw in the towel. There is life on the other side of grief and sorrow.”

Also at the podium on Wednesday was Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman with a call to action.

“We all have a responsibility to care for one another. Are we not the guardians of our brothers? Are we not the shepherds of our souls?” Norman asked the audience.

This week, Milwaukee saw its 100th murder of the year, but the year-to-date total is lower than the past two years. According to the Milwaukee Police Department's crime map, there have been 165 murders in 2022, 128 murders in 2023, and 102 murders so far this year.

But the families present on Wednesday, knowing how much pain each killing brings, said one was too many.

“When a community comes together and says, 'We're thinking of your loved ones. We want to honor your loss… I mean, what a beautiful thing that is,'” Gillispie said.

Gillispie said Milwaukee police caught the man who killed her son, and he is serving three life sentences. Meanwhile, Gillispie founded Mothers Against Gun Violence, an organization that supports families of murder victims in Milwaukee through art.

She said the work helps her heal and honor her son.

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