MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee police have responded to five murders in less than five days. It's a violent start to the new year, with the latest murder happening just before midnight Wednesday.
2012 has started off with nearly a murder a day in Milwaukee. The most recent victim is also the youngest. Family members say 16-year-old Eddie Ellis was caught in the crossfire of an inter-family feud. "It started all over Facebook comments. Two girlfriends of my other nephew that's incarcerated, they got into it. One of them got into fighting, and one of them got beat up and called some other family members, and they came over here to fight again, and the people they brought had guns," the victim's uncle, Corey Broady said.
Ellis was shot and killed shortly after 11 Wednesday night. Following the shooting, police arrested seven females for questioning. No suspects have been identified in this case at this time. "It's just a tragedy. We are totally hurting," the victim's aunt said.
Early Wednesday, police responded to a call of a body found, and discovered a man shot to death in the 3900 block of N. 13th Street. Police have not yet identified the victim, and continue to search for information in this case.
The year's third murder happened Tuesday morning in the 2800 block of S. 13th Street. The body of 24-year-old Dayana Bados was found with multiple stab wounds. Police are still searching for the accused killer, the victim's estranged husband Luis Bados. Denise Gonzales lives nearby and says she was shocked by the violence. "Who would want this? I don't think anybody would want nothing like this. You've just got to be careful," Gonzales said.
Another apparent domestic dispute, according to police, happend around 2:00 a.m. Monday in the 3800 block of N. 24th Place. 43-year-old Desiree Harrell was found shot to death in her car. Since that time, police have arrested a suspect who gave a full confession to the crime.
The first homicide of the year remains unsolved. Police say it occurred on the first day of the year, around 4:00 a.m. 23-year-old Travon Johnson was shot to death in his car near 29th and Townsend. Police have not arrested any suspect in connection with this case.
A statement from the Milwaukee Police Department about the recent string of murders says: "None of the five homicides were random acts. They are not connected in any way to each other, nor to a singular crime issue in the city."
Family members of the deceased say the growing death toll only brings more pain. "Life is more important than stupid stuff. It's just senseless, killing each other over nothing. You're huring a lot of people by killing people," Broady said.