Four-year-old Jurnee Scales Walker died after her 6-year-old brother gained access to a firearm, authorities said.
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — A 4-year-old girl who was fatally shot inside a Milwaukee home has been identified as Jurnee Scales Walker as authorities continue investigating how her young brother gained access to a firearm and a teenage sibling faces juvenile court proceedings in connection with the case.
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office identified Jurnee on Oct. 26, two days after the shooting in the 2700 block of North 53rd Street. Milwaukee police said officers responded shortly before 9 a.m. Oct. 24 after a 6-year-old obtained a gun and fired it, striking the girl. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said the two children were siblings.
Police arrested Jurnee’s 16-year-old brother after the shooting. Prosecutors filed allegations against the teenager that include neglecting a child where the consequence is death and possession of a dangerous weapon. Because he is a juvenile, some identifying information has not been publicly released. Court proceedings have referred to him by his initials.
A Milwaukee County court commissioner ordered the teenager to remain in detention following a hearing Oct. 26. His mother, attorney and a county social worker had asked that he be allowed to return home while the case proceeds, according to reporting from the hearing. The commissioner instead ordered that he remain in custody at least until another hearing scheduled for Oct. 30.
The decision came as authorities examined how firearms were being kept inside the home. Information presented in court indicated that investigators found another weapon in the residence that was hidden but was not properly locked. Prosecutors also alleged that the teenager knew younger children had previously handled or played with a firearm inside the home.
The precise sequence of events before the fatal shot remains under investigation. Police have said the 6-year-old gained access to a firearm and discharged it, but authorities have not released a complete public account explaining how the child reached the weapon or exactly where it had been kept before the shooting. Police have said they are not looking for additional suspects.
Family members have described Jurnee as a sweet child and said the younger children had been playing before the gun went off. A cousin told local television station TMJ4 that the family believed the firearm had been stored securely and did not know how the children were able to reach it. Authorities have not publicly confirmed every detail of the family’s account.
The shooting drew an immediate response from Milwaukee police urging gun owners to keep firearms secured and out of the reach of children. Police emphasized safe storage after announcing the child’s death, while investigators continued working to determine who had possession of the gun and how it became accessible inside the home.
The case follows other accidental shootings involving young people in Milwaukee this year, adding renewed attention to firearm access in homes with children. Authorities have not announced findings that fully explain how Jurnee’s brother obtained the weapon, and the juvenile proceedings against the 16-year-old remain pending.
The teenager is expected to return to court Oct. 30, when a judge could reconsider whether he should remain in detention while the case continues. Milwaukee police and prosecutors have not announced additional suspects, and the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Jurnee’s death remains open.
Author note: Last updated October 27, 2026.