MILWAUKEE, Wis. – A 19-year-old woman faces homicide charges after allegedly stabbing her cousin to death during a dispute regarding employment at a fast-food restaurant. The incident unfolded in their home on September 29, as Rae’Jianna Hall and her cousin, Jaquveon Wright, 18, engaged in a heated argument.
The confrontation reportedly escalated following Hall’s request for assistance with a job application at Taco Bell, where Wright was employed. Witnesses indicated that the conversation transformed into mutual threats and violence, with family members and Wright’s girlfriend present during the turmoil.
Authorities were alerted shortly after by a 911 call from Hall, who claimed that a physical altercation ensued after she spat on Wright, leading him to strike her in response. Upon arrival, police discovered Wright outside the residence suffering from a significant neck wound, while family members attempted to provide aid. Emergency medical responders later pronounced him dead at the scene.
Investigators unraveled the events leading to the stabbing, finding that tensions flared again after Hall used pepper spray on Wright during their earlier altercation. After separating briefly, the argument reignited when Wright returned to Hall’s room, culminating in a struggle.
Hall recounted to officers that during the confrontation, she raised a knife that ultimately caused the fatal injury to Wright. Surveillance footage captured the moment Wright fled from the room and collapsed outside the house.
A girlfriend of Wright provided critical testimony to detectives, recalling multiple threats made by Hall, including prior instances of suggesting she would stab or harm him. In addition, Wright’s mother reported witnessing Hall wielding a kitchen knife and overheard her threatening her son moments before Wright was found injured.
Although Hall acknowledged that using the knife could lead to fatal consequences, she claimed her intentions were not to kill. When pressed by investigators for clarification on whether the act was accidental or intentional, she cited confusion during the incident.
Hall was taken into custody at the scene and is currently being held at the Milwaukee County Jail on a $100,000 bond. Prosecutors have leveled additional charges against her for domestic abuse and the use of a dangerous weapon. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 14, as authorities continue to investigate the case, raising questions about domestic violence dynamics and the often complex relationships within families.