Prosecutors say a 32-year-old Milwaukee woman grew paranoid after smoking marijuana and shot a Concordia pharmacy student and herself on Nov. 4.
Jamica Simone Mills, who was 31 at the time of the shooting, is charged with first-degree reckless homicide by use of a dangerous weapon in the shooting that killed 26-year-old Ariel Spillner, who she described as her friend to authorities, and led to her injuring herself accidentally.
The prosecutor’s Nov. 8 criminal complaint details what Mills told police the evening the shooting occurred at her home after the two smoked marijuana together and both became paranoid.
Spillner was expected to cut Mills’ dog’s hair with scissors, but Mills retrieved a handgun from her bedroom after becoming paranoid. She later shot Spillner, after the victim made a “hand motion,” Mills then accidentally shot herself in the abdomen, according to the criminal complaint.
Mills told police Spillner did not threaten her, she did not “observe” the scissors, and she did not mean to kill the other woman, according to the complaint.
The complaint shows Mills having other adverse, seemingly strange reactions to smoking marijuana. When first responders arrived, she was not wearing clothes and was combative, including to hospital staff who treated her injuries. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner has not released an autopsy report for Spillner’s death.
Mills initially gave police a different narrative of events, where she was not the shooter, but later said it was incorrect, according to the compliant.
Online tributes to Spillner described her as an accomplished college basketball player at Clarke University in Iowa and “a light to everyone who knew her.” A fundraiser for Spillner’s family has raised nearly $12,500 as of Nov. 10.
Spillner was enrolled in the School of Pharmacy at Concordia University Wisconsin, a Lutheran university in Mequon. The university said in a statement it was “deeply saddened” of her death and was offering counseling and pastoral care to students.
“Our hearts and prayers are with Ariel’s family, friends, classmates, and all who knew and loved her,” the statement said. “We take comfort in the promise of Christ’s presence and pray for God’s peace to surround all who mourn Ariel’s passing.”
Milwaukee County Court Commissioner Katharine Kucharski set Mills’ bail at $150,000, according to online court records. Mills next court appearance is for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 17 at 1:30 p.m.
David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@gannett.com.
