On July 10, 2025, a devastating incident unfolded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where a 4-year-old boy, Ralph Taylor III, was fatally shot in his home on the 9100 block of North 75th Street. Authorities have charged the child’s father, 35-year-old Ralph Michael Taylor, with first-degree intentional homicide and possession of a firearm by a felon. The boy’s mother, 33-year-old Casandra Taylor, faces charges of neglecting a child with the consequence of death and straw purchasing a firearm, as she allegedly bought a gun for her husband, knowing he was a convicted felon prohibited from possessing one.

The incident stemmed from a heated domestic dispute, reportedly sparked by Ralph Taylor’s anger over a missing PlayStation 4, which he believed his 10-year-old stepson had taken. According to the criminal complaint, Taylor had a history of domestic violence against Casandra Taylor, becoming physically and verbally abusive when drinking alcohol. The 10-year-old stepson told investigators that Taylor had previously threatened to shoot Casandra, “shoot up the entire house,” and kill himself. On the day of the shooting, Taylor woke up confrontational, accusing the stepson of taking the gaming console. Throughout the day, tensions escalated as Taylor argued with Casandra, breaking her Chromebook during the altercation.

According to prosecutors, Taylor grabbed his 4-year-old son by the arm and took him to an upstairs bedroom, locking the door. Moments later, a single gunshot was heard. Casandra and the stepson rushed upstairs but found the door locked, with Casandra banging on it for several minutes before Taylor opened it, revealing the child was deceased. An autopsy revealed a gunshot wound with damage to the boy’s front upper gums and teeth, consistent with the firearm being inserted into his mouth, contradicting Taylor’s initial claims.

Ralph Taylor initially told police he was on the phone with another individual when he heard a gunshot, suggesting it came from outside through an open third-story window. He also claimed there were no firearms in the home. However, investigators recovered a Glock Model 17 semi-automatic pistol wrapped in plastic bags inside a storage container. When confronted with inconsistencies, Taylor changed his story, claiming the child found the gun under a pillow and accidentally shot himself. Witnesses, including the stepson and a 23-year-old relative living in the home, reported Taylor’s lack of remorse and his statement, “I got to hide my guns,” while a neighbor attempted CPR on the child.

Neighbors described a chaotic scene. Tangella Williams, a nearby resident, recounted hearing a gunshot and seeing Casandra Taylor run outside, screaming, “My son, my son, somebody shot my son through the window!” Williams and another neighbor entered the home to assist, finding the boy unresponsive in a pool of blood. Despite their efforts and those of first responders, the child could not be saved. Casandra attempted to conceal a gun by handing her purse to a neighbor, saying, “Hide this, there’s a gun in there.” The neighbor turned the purse over to police.

Casandra Taylor admitted to investigators that she knew Ralph was a convicted felon and had purchased a firearm for him, as evidenced by text messages on her phone. She appeared in Milwaukee County Court on July 14, 2025, where her bond was set at $5,000, and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for July 24. Court Commissioner Barry Phillips noted the tragedy of the child potentially being killed with a gun she illegally purchased. Ralph Taylor, also in custody at the Milwaukee County Jail, faces a $500,000 bond and is scheduled for a court appearance.

The 10-year-old stepson’s account was pivotal, detailing Taylor’s history of abuse and threats, including slapping the child and using profane language. A relative who had been living with the family for a month corroborated the threats, stating Taylor had said he would “shoot everyone in the house” that day. Milwaukee police records show Taylor’s prior arrests for battery and disorderly conduct related to domestic abuse in 2020, 2022, and 2023, though only the 2023 incident led to charges for resisting an officer.

This tragic event has shaken the Milwaukee community, highlighting issues of domestic violence, illegal firearm possession, and the devastating consequences of unchecked aggression. The loss of young Ralph Taylor III has left neighbors and family members mourning a child described as sweet and loved, who sometimes played with other children in the neighborhood.