Thread by @latimes

Milwaukee is in the grip of the worst violence in its modern history. There were 189 killings here last year, a 93% increase from 2019 and the most ever recorded.

The jump reflects a nationwide trend.

latimes.com/world-nation/s…

Among the 19 cities with more than half a million people — including Los Angeles, New York & Chicago — none saw a bigger surge than Milwaukee.

With 127 killings through the first half of September, the city is nearly on pace to match last year’s record.

latimes.com/world-nation/s…

The uniformity of the nationwide rise has launched multiple theories about what is driving it. Nearly all center on the pandemic and the mass movement against police brutality and racism.

Experts say it could take years to unravel those questions.

latimes.com/world-nation/s…

The phone at the New Pitts Mortuary was ringing nonstop.

Michelle Pitts was used to it — COVID-19 was devastating the Black community she serves. Around July 2020, she started getting more calls to arrange funerals for young men who had been shot.

latimes.com/world-nation/s…

The first sign of an uptick in 2020 came in February when there were 18 killings. But the upward trend didn’t become clear until July.

Homicide Det. Mike Washington said the rising caseload began to overwhelm the unit.

latimes.com/world-nation/s…

The logjam of cases includes the killing of 18-year-old Winfred Jackson Jr., whose body was discovered the night of March 17, 2020 — just as pandemic lockdowns were beginning.

He had been shot multiple times, the 28th homicide victim of the year.

latimes.com/world-nation/s…

Older sister Jalisa Martin struggled to make sense of it all.

Her little brother, Winfred, was preparing to get his GED at an alternative high school. He dreamed of joining the Army — of leaving Milwaukee and seeing the world.

latimes.com/world-nation/s…

Nobody knew it, but Milwaukee was starting to face another epidemic.

Read more from @kurtisalee and see more 📸 from @stathasphoto at latimes.com/world-nation/s…