Family of Black Man, Elijah Wilks, Shot Dead by Off-Duty Milwaukee Officer, Say Cop Acted Appropriately After Roadside Argument and Pistol Whipping Incident

Bounce Nation October 15, 2025
Family of Black Man, Elijah Wilks, Shot Dead by Off-Duty Milwaukee Officer, Say Cop Acted Appropriately After Roadside Argument and Pistol Whipping Incident

The family of a Black man has defended a white Milwaukee police officer’s use of lethal force after newly released dashcam footage showed the off-duty cop being physically assaulted by an irate driver following a near collision between the two.

According to police, the 41-year-old off-duty officer — a 21-year veteran of the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) — and 26-year-old Elijah Wilks were involved in a minor vehicle incident around 8:30 a.m. Thursday on West Mill Road, on the city’s northwest side.

Dashcam footage from the officer’s vehicle shows a construction zone where drivers were forced to merge. Wilks is seen moving into the left lane, cutting off the officer’s vehicle. Both men then pull over and begin arguing on the roadside.

Video shows Wilks pointing at the officer’s car, accusing him of causing damage. Suddenly, without warning, Wilks pulls out a handgun and strikes the off-duty officer with it.

Footage then shows Wilks pointing the firearm at the unnamed officer, who, acting in self-defense and in accordance with his training, returns fire, according to the family’s attorney, B’Ivory Lamarr, as reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Elijah Wilks, Milwaukee, Wisconsin man. Images via social media.
The video shows Wilks attempting to evade the gunfire, moving toward the side of his vehicle as the off-duty officer fires several additional shots, striking Wilks multiple times. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

It remains unclear whether the officer initially fired warning shots to deter further escalation. It is also believed that Wilks may not have realized the man he had pistol-whipped was a police officer, raising questions about whether his actions would have been different had the officer been in uniform.

While Wilks’ family expressed concern that the officer did not administer first aid after the shooting, their attorney stated that they ultimately believe the officer’s actions were justified. The family’s lawyer described the incident as both “unfortunate and tragic.”

Wilks’ relatives acknowledged that he made a “tragic mistake” by pulling a gun.

“He was a good person… everybody loved my brother,” said his sister, Elayjah Wilks.

His aunt, Andrea Ward, reflected on the tragedy, saying, “This could have happened to anyone. We are all one moment away from making the wrong decision.”

Another aunt, Latrice Bell, added, “He made a decision that he shouldn’t have made, and that’s something we have to live with. I don’t believe Elijah knew he was a police officer, but either way — the encounter should have gone differently.”

Attorney Lamarr noted that the family’s decision to publicly acknowledge the officer’s actions was not easy but reflected their desire for accountability, transparency, and healing in a city still grappling with the toll of violence.

The Milwaukee Police Department, emphasizing transparency, released the dashcam footage immediately to curb speculation and misinformation.

As of now, officials have declined to make further public comments on the case.


Tags:
Bounce Nation

Posted by: Bounce Nation