An 18-year-old charged with the shooting death of two teenagers on Christmas Day in Milwaukee was sentenced on Tuesday, July 8. A Milwaukee judge ruled that Quintarez Morris will serve five years in prison.
On December 25, 2025, 15-year-old Exziel Rivera and 18-year-old Nayah Vasquez were fatally shot. According to the prosecution, it occurred around 11:25 a.m. near the intersection of 37th and Scott, when Morris was driving and Jeremiah Taylor shot the teenagers.
“None of our families will ever enjoy Christmas again because of them,” Exziel’s mother, Melynda Rivera, told the tribunal.
A neighbor’s security footage captures the youngsters sitting in a Kia on the side of the roadway as a Malibu drives by, a man hanging out the front passenger window. According to the complaint, the defendant discharged the firearm at the Kia, causing it to roll ahead and hit a parked automobile. Morris maintains he wasn’t driving, although he did admit to burning the vehicle.
Morris ultimately pleaded guilty to harboring or helping a felon. “I would like to inform the court and community that I am aware, that I accept full responsibility for my actions and engagement, and that I sincerely regret… I want to inform the court that I was at the wrong place at the wrong time, with the wrong people. If I could change everything and go back in time, I would not have become involved in this situation in any manner. I am currently 18 years old, and I am aware that if I surround myself with the wrong people, I may be easily affected by others.
At the time, other accusations of second-degree reckless endangerment and cocaine possession had already placed Morris on bond.
Exziel died at the site, and Nayah died later in the hospital.
Judge Wagner attempted to speak with Morris and inquire about his role, but Morris declined to answer several of the judge’s inquiries. Judge Wagner confirmed this, saying, “When the court does in fact sentence you, sir, it doesn’t appear to be much of a conversation.”
Melynda expressed her dissatisfaction with the judge’s decision, adding, “With all due respect, it is [expletive]. It tells other people who do this to other people’s children that I’ll get slapped on the wrist and return in 5 years.”
Rivera acknowledges her son was buying marijuana, and she was working with him to improve. However, she believes Morris and Taylor should accept responsibility for their damaging deeds. “Will I one day be able to forgive him? Possibly. However, as a mother, I harbor a deep-seated hatred for him. He and Jeremiah. You cannot take back what you have done. There is no amount of ‘I’m sorry’ that can make up for my son’s life.”
Jeremiah Taylor, the other suspect in the case, has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide and has a warrant for his arrest. If you know where he is, please notify Milwaukee Police or Crime Stoppers.
Rivera’s and Vasquez’s families set up GoFundMe sites to help them pay for memorial and funeral expenses.
