MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Police Department and the FBI Milwaukee Field Office are asking the public for information regarding the 2022 murder of Brazil Johnson, a transgender woman.
Johnson, 28, was shot and killed near N. Teutonia and W. Garfield Avenues on June 15, 2022.
The agencies say they are "seeking anyone with information regarding the homicide, or can identify the individual in the attached photos." The photos were taken at 2:35 a.m. on North Avenue on June 15, 2022. The location is a few blocks away from where Johnson's body was found.
"I was shocked," Brazil's mother said. "I was told earlier in the case that there were no cameras and no footage."
Brazil's mother did not wish to be named, because of the disparaging comments she received shortly after the homicide. She says losing Brazil has had a tremendous impact on their family.
"It's a stabbing pain," She said. "This feels like a hole in your heart that can't be healed. That's just how it feels."
Brazil's death was the first in a string of transgender murders in the City of Milwaukee. Four transgender women have been murdered since June of 2022 in Milwaukee.
- Brazil Johnson, 28, murdered June 15, 2022 near Teutonia & Garfield
- Regina "Mya" Allen, 35, murdered Aug. 19, 2022 near 26th & Wells
- Cashay Henderson, 31, murdered Feb 26, 2023 near 29th & Villard
- Chyna Long, 30, murdered Oct. 8, 2023 near 89th & Dogwood
Brazil's case is the only one without a suspect in custody. So these two stills from surveillance footage on the morning of Brazil's murder are hope for her mother.
"It's a great big step," She said. "There's a great relief to me as a parent. To see something that gave me at least hope that now we can probably wrap this up and get a face and have an ID of that person and get this person brought in for justice."
Just days after Johnson's murder, Milwaukee police and city leaders issued call to action, sharing a public plea at city hall.
“Help us find out who did this,” said Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa, a proud member of the LGBTQ community. “Transgender Black and Brown women suffer higher rates of violence than their straight counterparts, as well as their lesbian, gay and bisexual counterparts.”
Johnson’s death hit especially close to home for Zamarripa and other allies.
“If anyone has any information, please come forward,” said Milwaukee Police Capt. Raymond Bratchett. “Sometimes even the smallest piece of information can be the break that we need in these cases.”
A break is what Brazil's mom hopes will come with these new photos. Hopes that the person responsible will be found.
"It will mean the world to us," she said. "There's too many murders that goes on and that are unsolved. I don't want [Brazil] to be another statistics. Oh just another person dead or another transgender person dead."
If you have any information, please call the FBI Milwaukee Field Office at 414-276-4684.
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