Court records indicate Kiana Pliska filed for protection the same day police say she was killed in a domestic violence incident.
ST. FRANCIS, Wis. — A Cudahy woman filed for a restraining order against a former partner hours before she was fatally shot outside a St. Francis apartment complex, according to court records reviewed after police classified her death as a domestic violence-related homicide.
Kiana M. Pliska, 32, was shot several times in a parking lot near South Packard Avenue and Lake Drive on Thursday evening. A 33-year-old Milwaukee man who knew Pliska was taken into custody less than two hours later. Police have described him as the only suspect but have not released his name or announced criminal charges.
Court records show Pliska sought a temporary restraining order on July 16, the day of the shooting. The order was not granted until after she had been shot, according to a review of the records by TMJ4. The available reports did not explain whether the man in custody had been notified about the filing before the shooting.
The records also show Pliska had sought protection earlier in the year. A former partner acknowledged having four firearms at his home during proceedings in April, according to TMJ4. That temporary restraining order was dismissed after Pliska did not appear for a scheduled court hearing.
Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether the former partner named in the court filings is the man being held in connection with Pliska’s death. Police also have not said whether a firearm was recovered, whether any prior court order was active Thursday or what investigators believe happened before the gunfire.
St. Francis officers were called to the Lake Park Apartments area at about 6:30 p.m. after several people reported hearing shots and seeing a woman on the ground. Officers found Pliska with multiple gunshot wounds and provided aid until firefighters took her to a hospital, where she died.
A witness, Sherema Lynch, said she heard two shots followed by three more. Police have not confirmed the number of rounds fired. Authorities said Pliska and the suspect knew each other and that neither of them lived at the apartment complex.
Domestic violence advocates said Pliska’s death illustrates the danger survivors can face while trying to obtain protection. Carmen Pitre of Sojourner Family Peace said survivors often live with fear while repeatedly making decisions about their safety.
Shawn Muhammad of Asha Family Services said the fatal shooting reflects broader concerns about women being killed in acts of gun violence. The advocates did not comment on evidence in the criminal investigation and did not identify the man in custody.
Pliska’s sister described her as the person who held their family together. “Kiana was selfless and took care of everyone,” she said in a statement. A family friend said Pliska was a mother of two boys.
The investigation remained open Saturday. Police had not disclosed a possible motive, and prosecutors had not announced whether the Milwaukee man would face charges.
Author note: Last updated July 18, 2026.