A Milwaukee man allegedly opened fire on his friend and a food truck worker, killing one and injuring the other, after becoming enraged over a missing Jeep key fob. Lexus Ford, 34, is accused of shooting Michael "Mike Lee" Jackson, 39, multiple times outside a food truck on North 27th and West Walnut streets, according to Milwaukee County court records reviewed by Law&Crime.
Background
The incident unfolded on Aug. 28, when Jackson joined a friend working at a food truck in the early morning hours. As the two walked back to Jackson’s vehicle, a gray sedan pulled alongside them, the passenger window rolled down, and approximately eight gunshots were heard before the car sped away, per the criminal complaint. Jackson was found with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body and pronounced dead about 30 minutes later at the scene. His friend survived with two gunshot wounds to his lower extremities.
Investigators recovered 19 9mm casings and reviewed surveillance footage showing a 2005 to 2007 tan Ford Focus with a distinctive black rear bumper circling the area before stopping to fire. The vehicle had been pulled over in July, and its temporary tag led police to Ford. The car had been released to Ford after his brother, the driver at the time of the July stop, was arrested by Waukesha Police.
The Charges
Ford has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide, first-degree reckless injury, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The motive appears to stem from a misunderstanding regarding Ford’s Jeep. Detectives determined that Ford had been selling liquor from his vehicle and dropped his key fob, which he believed Jackson had taken. Although Ford found the key fob just a few blocks away, he claimed people were removing items from his truck, leaving him "livid."
Evidence from a phone call between Ford’s ex-girlfriend and his brother from jail provided critical context. The ex-girlfriend stated that Ford believed his Jeep had been stolen with accessories inside, including alcohol he was selling. She noted that Ford had been involved in gambling, lost his keys in a bet, and eventually found his Jeep and recovered it. After the shooting, Ford allegedly told the woman, "I f—ed up," admitted he had "shot" someone, and nodded when asked if he had killed someone, stating he was going to go on the run.
Key Takeaways
- Lexus Ford, 34, is charged with first-degree reckless homicide for the death of Michael "Mike Lee" Jackson, 39.
- A second victim, Jackson’s friend, was shot twice in the lower body and survived.
- Police recovered 19 9mm casings at the scene and identified the suspect's vehicle as a tan Ford Focus with a black rear bumper.
- The alleged motive was Ford’s belief that Jackson had stolen his Jeep’s key fob, though the key was found nearby.
- Ford was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
What's Next
Ford is currently in custody. He was scheduled for an initial court appearance shortly after his arrest. The Milwaukee Police Department and prosecutors will continue to build the case, relying on surveillance video, ballistic evidence, and witness testimony regarding the confrontation over the stolen key fob. The investigation into Ford’s prior felony status and the specifics of the gambling incident that led to the missing keys remains ongoing.