A Milwaukee neighborhood is in shock after what began as a disagreement over a job opportunity ended in tragedy. 19-year-old Rae’Jianna Hall has been charged with reckless homicide, domestic abuse, and use of a deadly weapon following the fatal stabbing of her cousin, 18-year-old Jaquveon Wright, inside their shared duplex on the city’s north side.
According to court documents, the deadly confrontation occurred on September 29, after Hall allegedly became angry when Wright refused to help her get a job at the Taco Bell where he worked. Investigators say Hall asked Wright for his manager’s phone number to apply for a position, but when he declined, the argument escalated into a violent altercation.
Police responded to the scene after Hall called 911, claiming she had acted in self-defense. When officers arrived, they found Wright outside the home suffering from a stab wound to the neck. Despite emergency responders’ efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Surveillance footage reportedly showed him fleeing the home before collapsing from his injuries.
During questioning, Hall admitted to pepper-spraying Wright earlier that day and swinging a knife during their fight. She told police that she “did not mean to kill him” but acknowledged understanding that her actions could have caused his death.
Witness statements from Wright’s girlfriend and mother painted a picture of ongoing conflict between the cousins. Both described frequent verbal fights and threats from Hall toward Wright, including remarks that she would “stab” or “kill” him. Moments before the stabbing, witnesses reported seeing Hall holding a knife and heard her threaten to harm him.
Hall is currently being held on a $100,000 bond and is expected to appear in court on October 14.
The incident has left Wright’s family devastated and the Milwaukee community shaken, as loved ones struggle to make sense of how a family dispute over something as simple as a job referral could turn so deadly.
Authorities continue to investigate the full circumstances surrounding the fatal encounter.