44-year-old Minerva Hernández López Fatally Shot By 18-year-old Female During Rage Road Incident In The Southside Of Milwaukee

Road rage: López was fatally shot in the face at the 1000 Block of W. Lapham Blvd in the Southside of Milwaukee.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

August 18, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Monday, August 17, 2026, around 3:17 p.m., Milwaukee police responded to the 1000 block of W. Lapham Blvd. after shots were reported. When police arrived at the location, they found Minerva Hernández López, 44, suffering from gunshot wounds.

López was shot in the neck and side of the face during a road rage incident, according to police.

Mariah Ruiz, 18, was taken into custody and is pending criminal charges for 1st-degree intentional homicide. She being held on a $250,000 cash bail at the Milwaukee County jail.

More than 5 fired bullet castings were recovered at the scene. 

The Milwaukee County Medical office was called to the scene, López was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

According to police, López stopped at S. 10 Street while driving to W. Lapham Blvd, she backed up her vehicle in the middle of the street as Ruiz, the driver was behind her. Then Ruiz continued to followed López and as she made a u-turn on Lapham Blvd and then Ruiz fired multiple gunshots at López. Ruiz then fled the scene.

López got out of her vehicle and collapsed while bleeding out from the gunshot wounds.

Nearby outdoor video camera footage allowed police to later identify Ruiz's vehicle leading to her arrest.