MILWAUKEE, WI – A 26-year-old cashier, Jamil Owais, was fatally shot over a dispute involving pizza preparation. The incident occurred around noon on October 19, shocking the local community and leaving a family in mourning.
The shooter, identified as 38-year-old Charles Leggett, reportedly became enraged after believing that a cook at Action Food & Liquor was not wearing gloves while making his pizza. After confronting Owais, who was working behind the register, Leggett pulled out a gun and shot him in the chest before ultimately fleeing the scene, according to law enforcement.
Jamil Owais, a new father to a 6-month-old baby girl, was assiting at the family-run store when the altercation happened. Owais’ sister, Mohammad Owais, described the senselessness of the act and the deep impact it has had on their family. “This has been devastating,” she shared, emotionally recounting her brother’s nurturing role within the family and community.
Originally from the West Bank, Jamil moved to the United States in 2013 and was known in the neighborhood as a friendly and helpful individual. That fateful day, Jamil was covering shifts for his brother, which added to the tragic irony of his fate.
The incident has left a mark on community members as well, who remember Owais as a kind and generous presence in their daily lives. Customers expressed their shock, highlighting his humorous and compassionate nature.
Charles Leggett, previously prohibited from owning a firearm because of his status as a convicted felon, has since been charged with first-degree reckless homicide. He is being held on a $200,000 cash bond, and if found guilty, faces up to 75 years in prison.
In a poignant twist, the store employee who prepared Leggett’s pizza confirmed that gloves were indeed worn during the preparation, adding an even greater layer of senselessness to the act of violence.