© 2026 Milwaukee Public Media is a service of UW-Milwaukee's College of Letters & Science
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
WUWM is replacing our old transmitter this week. Our signal may dropout and/or not reach as far; however, our stream is not impacted. Thank you for your patience.

#001 Precious Lives: How Do You Measure the Loss of a Five-Year-Old Girl?

LaylahChristiauna Petersen was a granddaughter, a daughter, a sister, a niece, a classmate and a best friend. Now she’s another face of gun deaths in Milwaukee.

Laylah was shot and killed in November, while sitting on grandfather’s lap, in her grandparents' home, reading with her older sister before bedtime. A bullet pierced the wall striking Laylah in her head. The family still doesn’t know who did it, or why.

Corresponding Content:

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Young Lives Matter

Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism - Bullets exacted terrible toll on children, African Americans

Stay Connected