Executive Summary
- Bobby Smith, 35, died on Dec. 22 from gunshot injuries sustained during a Nov. 3 incident.
- The shooting occurred after Smith fled a police stop and crashed into a vehicle driven by Travon Hicks.
- Hicks, 28, claimed self-defense and was charged with second-degree reckless injury and weapons offenses.
- Police recovered multiple firearms and narcotics from Hicks’ vehicle.
- Smith was previously convicted of a fatal crash in 2015 and was on extended supervision.
A Milwaukee man has died from injuries sustained during a shooting that occurred immediately following a traffic collision and a police pursuit earlier this month. Bobby Smith, 35, was pronounced dead on December 22, several weeks after the November 3 incident on Milwaukee’s north side, according to reports from the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office.
According to the medical examiner’s report, Smith died at 3:17 p.m., and the primary manner of death has been listed as homicide. The fatal sequence of events began when Milwaukee police officers attempted to approach a silver Honda, driven by Smith, as part of a firearms investigation. The criminal complaint states that Smith fled the scene, initiating a police pursuit.
Officers briefly lost sight of the vehicle but located it shortly thereafter at the intersection of North 71st Street and West Capitol Drive, where the Honda had collided with a black Kia sedan. Police found Smith lying on his stomach in front of the Kia, suffering from a gunshot wound to his left shoulder. The injury reportedly left Smith a quadriplegic prior to his death.
Travon Hicks, 28, the driver of the Kia, was arrested and charged on November 8 with second-degree reckless injury using a dangerous weapon. According to court documents, Hicks told responding officers that he and a passenger were driving to a car wash when they were struck by the Honda. Hicks stated that the driver of the Honda exited the vehicle and ran across Capitol Drive. Hicks told investigators he feared for his safety, stating, "I didn’t know what that person was going to do so I fired my weapon," and cited concerns regarding PTSD and safety in Milwaukee.
Investigators recovered a 10mm Glock, an AR-15 pistol, and two 10mm spent casings from Hicks’ vehicle. Additionally, police found a backpack containing a substance testing positive for THC, a small amount of cocaine, and drug paraphernalia. Hicks claimed the backpack belonged to a relative. He was released on $7,500 bail on November 17 and is scheduled for a status conference on January 16.
Court records indicate that Smith was on extended supervision at the time of the incident. He had been convicted in September 2016 for homicide by use of a vehicle involving controlled substances and knowingly operating while suspended, stemming from a fatal 2015 crash. He was sentenced to six years imprisonment followed by extended supervision.
Legal Implications and Investigative Updates
The death of Bobby Smith significantly alters the trajectory of the legal proceedings against Travon Hicks. While Hicks was initially charged with second-degree reckless injury, prosecutors may now review the case to determine if upgraded charges, such as reckless homicide, are warranted given the change in the victim’s status. The investigation will likely focus on the viability of Hicks’ self-defense claim in the context of the shooting. As of December 24, no additional charges had been filed. It is important to note that all individuals, including Mr. Hicks, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
