In a quiet Milwaukee apartment on April 18, 2025, a 17-year-old boy named J.G. faced an unthinkable moment. Returning home, he found his mother, Amber Gray, 34, enduring a brutal assault from her partner, Ziare Dalton, 26. The sounds of violence echoed through their home near N. 15th St. and W. Cherry St., a place that should have been a sanctuary for Gray and her four children, including a toddler just learning to walk. In a desperate attempt to protect his mother, J.G. grabbed a firearm, a decision that would unravel into tragedy. Moments later, gunfire rang out, leaving Gray fatally wounded and Dalton injured. Gray succumbed to her injuries four days later on April 22, her death tearing a hole in the lives of her children and community.
The incident began when Gray, in a frantic call to 911, reported Dalton’s attack, her voice trembling as she said, “He’s hitting me, now he’s hitting my son.” Court documents reveal the chaos that unfolded as J.G., hearing his mother’s cries, retrieved a gun and descended the stairs. The 911 call captured the sound of approximately 10 shots before abruptly disconnecting, a chilling record of the violence. When police arrived, they found Dalton with multiple gunshot wounds, still alive but critically injured. Gray, however, had been shot in the head, a wound that proved fatal. A neighbor, identified only as R.R.R., recounted to reporters the harrowing aftermath, describing how Dalton sought help at her door, unaware that Gray lay lifeless in the apartment next door.
J.G., whose actions were driven by a son’s instinct to protect his mother, now faces legal consequences. Due to a prior juvenile felony, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm, leading to charges of illegal gun possession. The Milwaukee County Circuit Court has yet to release further details on his case, but the weight of his loss is compounded by the legal battle ahead. Meanwhile, Dalton faces a felony murder charge, a legal consequence tied to his role in sparking the deadly confrontation. Under Wisconsin law, felony murder applies when a death occurs during the commission of certain crimes, in this case, the domestic violence that precipitated the shooting. Dalton’s survival does little to lessen the gravity of his actions, which set the stage for the loss of a mother of four.
Amber Gray’s death has left her family grappling with grief. Her youngest child, barely a toddler, will grow up without her nurturing presence, while her older children face the trauma of witnessing such violence. The tragedy underscores the devastating ripple effects of domestic abuse, a scourge that experts say often ensnares children in its chaos. Carmen Pitre, president of the Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee, emphasized the dangers children face in violent homes. “Kids love their mothers and will do anything to protect them,” she said, lamenting the frequency with which young people are injured or entangled in such incidents. Pitre urged young people caught in abusive environments to seek help from trusted figures—a teacher, pastor, or relative—to find safety and support.
This incident, while singular in its heartbreak, reflects a broader pattern of domestic violence’s toll on families. In Milwaukee, where community organizations work tirelessly to support survivors, Gray’s death serves as a stark reminder of the urgency of intervention. The legal proceedings against J.G. and Dalton will unfold in the coming months, but for Gray’s children, the loss is immediate and irreparable. Her memory endures in the love she gave her family, now left to navigate a future without her.