Wisconsin woman killed in domestic violence incident remembered as ‘beautiful spirit’ who helped other victims

A Wisconsin woman killed in a domestic violence incident over the weekend is being remembered for helping others who faced abuse at home or at the hands of a loved one.

Desiree Harris was found fatally shot inside her Milwaukee home, located in the Thurston Woods neighborhood, Sunday around 4:30 a.m. She is the 30th person to be killed by domestic violence in Milwaukee County this year, seven of who died in the last three weeks alone, according to the Sojourner Family Peace Center

A suspect has been arrested in connection with the deadly incident, but he has not been identified, police told WISN.

Harris, a 51-year-old Milwaukee native, spent her days trying to help those living in dangerous situations. She worked with the Asha Project, a domestic violence support program designed specifically to support Black women.

Antonia Drew-Norton, head of the nonprofit, remembered Harris as a “beautiful spirit” who “radiated light.”

“She was very knowledgeable about domestic violence victimization, and she worked towards helping survivors,” she told the news station on Tuesday.

“We’re not certain what all happened with her. Several of us often reached out to her time and again, but she was in a cycle where she was being isolated,” Drew-Norton continued. “That’s the thing, or the nature of the insidiousness of domestic violence. It doesn’t care who you are.”

Drew-Norton also touched on the violence in the area, adding that she hoped discussing such stories would help curb similar incidents in the future.

“What is important to us is we’re seeing so many women, particularly Black and brown women, that are being murdered at record numbers, shot at record numbers and it’s an all hands on deck (situation,)” she said.

The Milwaukee Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault on Tuesday hosted a special meeting to discuss the recent surge in domestic violence as well as potential solutions.

“We ask everyone to pay attention to our loved ones and encourage them to seek support at the earliest signs of mistreatment, regardless of the status of that relationship,” the commission said in a statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

“We also know the importance of urging our community to assist those engaging in harmful behavior to seek assistance and resources to change their behavior and action.”