The Brief In August, an 11-year-old Milwaukee boy died after getting ahold of a firearm and accidently shooting himself. Christopher Taper was charged with child neglect, consequence is death, among other felonies, and went on the run. He later turned himself in and made his initial appearance in court on Tuesday, Oct. 20.



A Milwaukee man, charged with child neglect in the shooting death of an 11-year-old boy, made his initial appearance in court on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

44-year-old Christopher Taper is charged with the following in the death of Samare Heard:

Neglecting a Child (Consequence is Death)

Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

Felony Bail Jumping (2 Counts)

Christopher Taper (mugshot from 2007)

Prosecutors say Samare's mother, Jamie Campbell, left him in the care of her boyfriend, Christopher Taper, when she went to work.

A short time after leaving for work, Taper frantically called Campbell saying Samare had shot himself. He then left the home without calling 911. Police say Taper left Samare to  die alone. 

FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android

In court on Tuesday, Taper's cash bail was set at $100,000. He is due in court for his preliminary hearing on Oct. 26.


Fatal shooting | August 2026

The backstory:

Jamie Campbell says her entire world changed in just a matter of minutes.

She should be preparing for the upcoming school year, instead, she's planning her 11-year-old's funeral.

 Prayer, God, and just all my memories with him,  said Campbell.

These are the three things Campbell said are keeping her going.

Samare Heard and his mother, Jamie Campbell

 I just can't do a lot, and it hurts, and it's heavy,  said Campbell.

Milwaukee police said Samare shot himself in the head Monday night near 60th and Thurston.

Campbell says she left home after 9pm to go to her third-shift job in West Bend. Her boyfriend of six years, Christopher Taper, was staying home to watch him. She said the last time she saw Samare was when he walked her to her car before going to work.

 I said 'I love you Mare, I go
#fox6now   #crimewatchmilwaukee