MILWAUKEE — Two families are in mourning after a quintuple shooting led to a car crash, killing a man and woman Sunday morning in Milwaukee.
While the Milwaukee Police Department hasn’t released their names, the families identify 34-year-old Victoria Smith and 29-year-old Leerance Rilley as the victims.
Naquanda Brister tried to hold back tears thinking about her cousin and best friend, Victoria Smith, known as Vicky.
“We won’t be able to see my cousin no more, we’ve got to go visit her at some grave-site,” Brister said.
They were just together, celebrating Smith’s birthday with other family Saturday night, but when Smith left, that would be the last time Brister saw her.
“If I would have known that would have happened to her, I would have never let her leave my house. I would have never if I knew that. I would have hugged her a little bit more tighter,” Brister said.
Smith went to a party where police said a shooting happened just after 3:30 a.m. near the intersection of 28th and Ruby.
Terrell Malone was sleeping when he heard the gunshots.
“Pow, pow, pow, pow, pow. There were so many gunshots I couldn’t even tell you how many,” said Malone.
Five people were hurt, with three of them seriously injured, including Smith.
Police said a man tried to help and was taking her to the hospital, when he lost control of his car and crashed into a tree near Sherman and Nash.
The driver and Smith were pronounced dead at the scene. Police said it’s unknown whether Smith succumbed to injuries from the crash or shooting.
Families tell me Vicky Smith & Lee Rilley died early this morning. Vicky was at a party near 28th & Ruby when @MilwaukeePolice say 5 ppl were shot including Vicky. Lee was taking her to hospital when he crashed into tree by Sherman & Nash. Both pronounced dead at the scene @tmj4 pic.twitter.com/ehBb4An1Lq
— Lauren Linder (@lauren_linder) June 21, 2020
Kierra Steel and other family members of the driver said he was Leerance Rilley, who they called Lee.
“On Father’s Day his kids can’t say ‘Happy Father’s Day daddy.’ They can’t give him nothing,” Steel said.
They’re now leaning on each other as they process their loss.
“He was a good father. He had a good head on his shoulders,” Steel said.
It’s unclear how Smith and Rilley knew each other, but two parents are gone, leaving behind young children, and loved ones seeking answers.
“I hope they find the people who did this to my cousin cause she didn’t deserve this, she didn’t deserve none of this,” Brister said.
A memorial continues to grow at the site of the crash as family and friends pay their respects.
Police are still looking for the suspects in the shooting. If you have any information about what happened call the Milwaukee Police Department at 414-935-7360.
The four others hurt in the shooting near 28th and Ruby include two men who remain at the hospital with serous injuries, a 29-year-old in critical condition and a 33-year-old in stable condition. Two women, 22-years-old and 33-years-old both had non-life-threatening injuries and were released from the hospital.
