A Milwaukee mother is dead after a devastating incident in which her 17-year-old son accidentally shot her while trying to protect her from an alleged violent assault by her boyfriend.
The tragedy has left a neighborhood grieving and renewed calls for stronger protections against domestic violence.
The woman, whose name has not been released by authorities, was killed during a chaotic confrontation on April 18 at their home in Milwaukee’s King Park neighborhood.
Prosecutors say the teen, in a desperate attempt to stop the alleged abuse, fired a weapon in self-defense — unknowingly hitting his mother. She died four days later from her injuries.
The man accused of assaulting her, 26-year-old Ziare Dalton, is now facing a felony murder charge. Court records allege that Dalton had been physically attacking the woman while threatening to kill her, her teenage son, and other relatives.
The victim had managed to dial 911 during the assault. The call reportedly captured harrowing screams followed by the sound of 10 gunshots.
Authorities revealed that two young children, ages 9 and 11, were inside the home during the shooting. The family had been living under threat for months. Police had responded to at least six domestic violence-related calls at the residence within the past year.
The 17-year-old, who has not been publicly identified, turned himself in on April 26. While he is not facing homicide charges, prosecutors have charged him with two firearm-related offenses due to his age.
“This young man tried to protect his mother in the only way he felt he could,” said a local advocate for domestic violence survivors who asked not to be named. “This is not just a tragedy for one family — it’s a failure of the system meant to protect women from repeated abuse.”
Ziare Dalton remains in custody. If convicted of felony murder, he could face significant prison time.
The woman leaves behind a legacy of resilience in the face of fear — and a grieving family shattered by circumstances they tried repeatedly to escape.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available 24/7 through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or by texting “START” to 88788.
