MILWAUKEE, Wis. — A fatal shooting at a food truck has led to charges against a local man as investigators pieced together evidence from surveillance footage and witness accounts. The incident occurred early on August 28, resulting in the death of 39-year-old Michael T. Jackson and leaving another man injured.
Authorities allege that 34-year-old Lexus Ford is responsible for the shooting. The details gleaned from a criminal complaint detail the systematic approach detectives took in gathering various forms of evidence post-incident. Officers located Jackson with multiple gunshot wounds shortly after responding to a report of gunfire near North 27th and West Walnut streets. He was pronounced dead at the scene, while the second victim, a 33-year-old food-truck worker, sustained injuries that were classified as non-life-threatening.
Witness accounts played a critical role in directing the investigation. The surviving victim reported having spoken with Jackson before noticing a gray sedan—a vehicle that would later be identified as a tan Ford Focus—pulling up alongside them. Moments later, he heard gunfire and realized he had been hit as the vehicle fled the scene. This description set the stage for detectives to analyze surveillance footage from the neighborhood.
Video evidence depicted a tan Ford Focus, specifically from model years 2005 to 2007, roaming the area leading up to the shooting. Detectives noted its distinct black rear bumper and observed that it circled the neighborhood multiple times before and after the incident. The analysis of spent shell casings found at the shooting scene indicated a total of 19 fired 9 mm rounds, suggesting a more intense exchange of gunfire than initially reported by the surviving victim.
Investigators further traced a temporary license plate linked to the vehicle, which led them to previous police interactions involving Ford’s brother. This connection allowed police to focus on Ford as a potential suspect while they continued to gather further evidence. A call recorded between Ford’s brother and his ex-girlfriend raised additional questions, as she recounted an incident involving Ford’s Jeep and indicated that Ford felt the need to leave after a serious situation had unfolded.
In a September 5 interview, Ford provided details about the events that led to the shooting. He told detectives that he had been selling liquor from his vehicle and suggested that Jackson had taken a key fob belonging to his Jeep. After locating the Jeep a few blocks from where the shooting occurred, Ford claimed he saw people removing items from it, identifying Jackson as one of those individuals. His statements, while providing context, did not substantiate claims that Jackson had stolen from him.
Jackson’s death shifted the investigation’s focus from a drive-by shooting to a homicide linked to a possible dispute over the Jeep. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Jackson’s identity, and family members lamented his death, emphasizing that it occurred on his son’s birthday. They characterized him as a loving father, offering one of the few personal glimpses of Jackson amid the ongoing legal proceedings.
The food truck’s operation during the early hours drew scrutiny, as local regulations typically limit food truck activities during specific hours. However, authorities indicated that this aspect was unrelated to the shooting or the charges against Ford. After the criminal case was initiated in September, a judge set Ford’s bond at $250,000 during his initial court appearance.
The investigation remains ongoing, defined by the accumulation of evidence—from eyewitness descriptions and surveillance video to plate data and Ford’s own account of the events. As the case progresses through the court system, Ford is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The ultimate outcome will hinge on how effectively prosecutors can connect the dots between the evidence and the charges against him.