MILWAUKEE — Two men who were shot and killed on Milwaukee's north side early Monday morning were identified by the medical examiner.
The two men, 24-year-old Marcell "Celly Cell" Hendrix and 26-year-old Joevon "Jigg" Wilder, died Monday, Dec. 18. Both were up and coming in Milwaukee's rap scene, according to friends and family.
According to the medical examiner, Hendrix was pronounced dead at 12:55 a.m. inside a vehicle near 20th and Locust.
Wilder was pronounced dead at 1:35 a.m. at the hospital.
According to Milwaukee police, the shooting was reported around 12:35 a.m. on the 2900 block of N. 20th St. Police are still investigating what led up to the shooting and no arrests have been made.
Tuesday night, just a few blocks a part, friends and family came together to celebrate their lives in separate vigils.
Joevon "Jigg" Wilder was well on his way to becoming a household name in rap circles. He has two songs on YouTube with millions of views and several others in the hundreds of thousands, both as the lead artist and as a featured artist. His Instagram page totals nearly 33,000 followers.
But more than an artist, he's being remembered as a loving son and father.
"He was a really kind and genuine person," Taylor Cross, the mother to Wilder's son said. "A great dad to his son, great son to his mother. You could count on him to be there for the people he loved."
Cross says Wilder was the love of her life. A devastating blow for the new mother, looking forward to a lifetime together. She shared a picture of the three of them, posing for Christmas photos last year. Now, a week short of Christmas, she and her son will be without the most important man in their lives.
Wilder, merely a memory now for them. However, Cross says having his catalog of music will help their son understand who his father was. It will be her job to fill in the rest; the intricacies of a man who was much more than just his music.
"His dad was super tough," Cross said. "The toughest person I know. It's depicted in his music but it doesn't show his soft side. He loved his son so much, so much."
The loss of Wilder is unfortunately just the latest victim of gun violence in his family. His cousin, Trinika Walker, told the crowd gathered for his vigil, she lost her son five years ago.
"Milwaukee is a lost town," Peggy Wright, Joevon's grandmother said. "It needs some help. They need to do something about all this killing. I know just with my grandson, it's not going to stop."
The other man killed Monday, Hendrix, was known for his generosity.
"Marcell had a heart of gold, y'all," one woman at Hendrix vigil said. "Anybody out here know that he'll do anything for anybody."
Hendrix following on Instagram had surpassed 5,000 followers with his music as the focus. He leaves behind two children, and a third on the way. His daughter at the vigil Tuesday night, pointing to a picture of her dad.
"That's daddy," she said with excitement. Still too young to fully grasp the loss she'll live with for the rest of her life.
The double fatal shooting was a part of an overwhelmingly violent weekend across the City of Milwaukee, which included 10 separate incidents of violence that left 11 people injured.
This past weekend alone, right before Christmas, nine people were shot, two were stabbed and two were killed by gunfire.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-Tips or P3 Tips.
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