Milwaukee Christmas morning fatal shooting; 2 men arrested

Milwaukee police arrested two men, ages 18 and 21, after a Christmas morning shooting that left two teens dead. It happened near 37th and Scott. 

The mother of 15-year-old Exziel Rivera told FOX6 News, this is the news she has been waiting for. Now, she wants the two men locked away forever. 

"That’s what I hold in my heart, that smile," said Rivera's mother, who asked that we not use her name or show her face for her own safety. "Mama’s boy. Still my little ray of sunshine."

Now, she remembers that sunshine through photos and memories. 

"15 years old," she said. "That baby had his whole life ahead of him."

Exziel Rivera

The hurt in Rivera's mother's voice, while thinking of her son, is just as strong as the tears running down her cheeks. 

"I’m still angry," she said. 

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Rivera is one of two teens killed on Milwaukee's south side on Dec. 25. Police said he and another person, 18-year-old Nayah Vasquez, were inside a vehicle when someone opened fire. The mother said she still does not understand what happened that morning. 

"He may have gotten mixed up with the wrong crowd," she said. 

The arrest of two men in this case is the only sense of relief River's mom has had since the death. 

"I had to plan my son’s funeral, not a wedding, not a baby shower for my grandbaby, nothing," she said. 

She said her son loved music, cooking and dancing – and would give the shirt off of his back. 

Exziel Rivera

"I raised him right; he just had to be a kid," she said. 

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Now, she wants those responsible for the loss of her son to lose their freedom. 

"They took that from me and I’m going to make damn sure for my son and Nayah that they don’t get that with their family either," she said. 

Related

Milwaukee Christmas Day shootings; 2 teens dead, identified, child shot

Milwaukee police are investigating different shootings that occurred on Wednesday, Dec. 25, that left a child injured and two teenagers dead.

FOX6 News is not releasing the names of those arrested because they have yet to be charged. 

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