Milwaukee children shot; police say 4 in 4 days

MILWAUKEE - Independence Day weekend in Milwaukee was violent, with four children shot in four days.

The family of a 16-year-old boy victim tells FOX6 News he is now brain-dead after a shooting around 12:30 in the morning of July 4.

"All we can do now is put it in God’s hands and hope for the better," Kevin Simmons, the victim's father, said. "That’s all we can do now. We can’t give up, either."

Hours before someone shot Malik Simmons near 105th and Daphne, he was involved in a fight over a $10 belt.

"He told his mom that my brother didn’t pay him for the belt," Jeliza Simmons, who is going into sixth grade, said of the dispute.

Jeliza was there with her brother, Malik around 3:30 Sunday afternoon. She said her brother had earlier paid for the belt, but the other boy had said that he didn't. Two other people outside the family also say the fight was over the belt.

Milwaukee police are investigating and refused to say if the fight is connected with the shooting.

In video of the fight that Malik's father showed FOX6 News, Malik appears to win. But hours later, several bullets would pierce his home's back door. Simmons' family said one of nine bullets hit him in the head.

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"I just hate to see this happen to my son, for something little and petty," said Kevin Simmons.

Kevin Simmons

Simmons was rushed to Children's Wisconsin. His family is not sure if he will ever return home.

"My nephew. He was bright, intelligent, he was a good person. He had dreams. And somebody took that away from him," said Rhonda Simmons, Malik's aunt. "

"He said, ‘Auntie, one day I’m going to be an entrepreneur. I’m going to make something of myself,’" recollected Rhonda Simmons. "And I said, ‘Go for it. I got your back.’"

Shooting near 105th and Daphne, Milwaukee

Now, he's the most recent victim of violence against young people in Milwaukee.

Police said a 3-year-old boy died after getting his hands on a gun on Friday. On Saturday, another 3-year-old was shot and in critical condition. 

For the two shootings of the 3-year-olds, police said both appeared accidental. They have arrested a separate woman in each of those cases.

On Sunday, a bullet hit a 15-year-old Milwaukee boy who is expected to survive.

As police investigate four shootings of four children in the span of four days, Malik's family is left waiting for justice while they mourn.

"Malik was a very good kid. We have got to put the guns down. We want to get mad when something happens, and we want to go answer it with a gun," said Kevin Simmons. "It’s not the right way. Malik had his whole life ahead of him. That’s my son. It’s just hard for me right now. It’s very hard."