A criminal complaint says a dispute outside a Deer District concert venue turned deadly within moments.
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — A minor crash outside a downtown concert venue ended in a homicide charge after prosecutors said a Glendale man shot a woman multiple times and then ran over her as he drove away from the Deer District on Feb. 28.
Milwaukee County prosecutors on Friday charged 26-year-old Demetris A. Riley with first-degree intentional homicide in the death of 47-year-old Sharita Barber. The case has drawn attention because investigators say the confrontation began with a light traffic collision on Vel R. Phillips Avenue after a concert and quickly turned into a gunfight in a busy entertainment area filled with people leaving nearby venues.
According to the criminal complaint, Barber had parked on Vel R. Phillips Avenue near Landmark Credit Union Live, south of Fiserv Forum, and was trying to leave when her red Jaguar lightly backed into a vehicle Riley was using. Prosecutors say Riley and a woman who was with him got out and confronted Barber. Investigators allege the argument escalated when Riley punched out the back window of Barber’s Jaguar. The complaint says Barber then pulled a gun with an extended magazine and pointed it at Riley and the woman. A witness video cited in the complaint captured Barber saying, “You can’t pay for that. I want your life,” as the confrontation unfolded in the street.
Investigators say the next moments were captured from several angles, including surveillance cameras and other video. Prosecutors allege Riley’s companion retrieved a gun and fired twice at Barber, causing her to fall to the ground. The complaint says Barber remained motionless after those first shots. Prosecutors then allege Riley took the gun and fired at least four more times at Barber as she lay in the street. Police said a forensic review found six shell casings from the same firearm and none from Barber’s gun. The medical examiner later concluded Barber suffered six gunshot wounds and severe blunt-force injuries after being run over. The complaint says Barber was still alive when emergency responders arrived and was alive when the later shots were fired and when the vehicle struck her.
The violence happened in a crowded part of downtown after a BossMan Dlow performance at the new venue. Court documents describe a scene with pedestrians and traffic nearby as people were leaving the area. A traveling registered nurse who had been at Turner Hall told police she heard several pops, ran toward the sound and began CPR with another person before officers arrived. Police said officers then took over lifesaving measures until firefighters and paramedics reached the scene. Barber later died from her injuries. The location of the shooting, in one of Milwaukee’s busiest entertainment corridors, has made the case stand out beyond the homicide charge itself, raising new attention on how quickly a street dispute turned lethal in a public setting.
Riley turned himself in to police on March 2 with an attorney, according to the complaint. In his statement to detectives, Riley said he believed Barber was reaching for her gun and said he feared for his safety. He also said he thought Barber had other people coming to help her. Prosecutors, however, say the video evidence undercuts that account because Barber was already on the ground and motionless when Riley allegedly fired additional shots. Riley is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, and the case includes a dangerous weapon enhancer that could add prison time if he is convicted. WISN reported that prosecutors filed an amended complaint Saturday morning removing a line in the earlier version that had said the state would not issue charges against Riley’s girlfriend.
Barber’s family declined an on-camera interview but released a statement remembering her and calling for an end to gun violence. “She was loved by many,” the family said, adding that people should “put the guns down and pray, as we’re only hurting each other.” That statement offered the first public family response after the charge was filed. As of Sunday, the homicide case centered on Riley, while questions remained about whether anyone else could face charges as prosecutors continue to review the evidence and the updated complaint.
The case now moves into the early court process, with prosecutors expected to outline the evidence behind the homicide count and any related penalty enhancer. The next milestone will be Riley’s first court appearances as the state continues to sort through surveillance video, witness statements and forensic findings from the shooting scene.
Author note: Last updated March 8, 2026.