Milwaukee police are investigating the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Alicia Renee Machnik, a mother of two, at the Port Motel on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. The incident was reported shortly after 2:30 p.m. in the area of Appleton Avenue and Silver Spring Drive on the city’s northwest side.
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that the shooting occurred inside a room at the motel. A significant police presence was observed at the scene, with officers surrounding the building and going in and out to conduct their investigation.
According to statements from her family, the alleged shooter in this case is Machnik’s boyfriend, identified as Lance White. In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, relatives publicly named him as the suspect and have characterized the killing as an act of domestic violence.
They are urging law enforcement to fully recognize this context as the investigation unfolds. As of Wednesday night, Milwaukee police did not have anyone in custody and had not formally named any suspects, indicating the investigation was still in its active stages .
Alicia Machnik is remembered by her family as a loving mother, daughter, and sister . In the hours following her death, a close relative organized a GoFundMe campaign titled “Support for Malinna & Jakii After the Loss of Their Mother,” confirming that she leaves behind two children. Friends and community members began sharing tributes online, describing her as a “sweet funny loving person that loved her kids unconditionally” and expressing hope for justice.
The homicide adds to a tragic pattern of gun violence in Milwaukee during the first weeks of 2026. According to a national gun violence memorial list, Alicia Machnik was one of at least seven gun violence victims in the city between January 7 and January 15 . Other victims from Milwaukee during this period include Jahvee Taylor (35), Frank Mosley (28), Patrick Kelly Davis (58), and several teenagers . This incident underscores the ongoing crisis affecting the community.
The Milwaukee Police Department’s investigation is ongoing. Authorities are working to gather evidence from the motel room and the surrounding area to piece together the precise sequence of events that led to the shooting. The family’s public identification of a suspect and their assertion of a domestic violence motive will be critical elements for detectives to corroborate through official channels.
As the community mourns the loss of Alicia Machnik, attention turns to the urgent need for resources and support for victims of domestic violence and their families. The fatal shooting at the Port Motel represents not just a criminal act but a profound societal issue. The outcome of the police investigation and the subsequent legal proceedings will be closely watched by a community grappling with this loss and the broader epidemic of violence.