A 31-year-old Milwaukee woman has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide following the fatal shooting of her friend, Ariel Spillner, a Concordia University doctoral student.
According to a criminal complaint, Jamica Simone Mills allegedly shot Spillner, 26, at her home on Milwaukee’s north side last Sunday evening. The two women had reportedly been smoking marijuana together when Mills became paranoid, fearing that Spillner might attack her.
Investigators said Mills admitted that Spillner never threatened her or brandished a weapon but claimed she saw a pair of scissors nearby and acted in fear. Mills retrieved a Ruger .380 handgun and fired after Spillner made what she described as a “hand motion.”
Responding officers found both women suffering from gunshot wounds — Mills had accidentally shot herself in the stomach while attempting to leave. Spillner was pronounced dead at the scene. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that the bullet pierced both of Spillner’s lungs and her aorta.
Authorities recovered the firearm and shell casings at the scene, with records linking the weapon to Mills. She is being held on a $150,000 cash bond and faces up to 65 years in prison if convicted. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 17.
Friends and family describe Spillner as a dedicated student pursuing her Doctorate in Pharmacy and preparing to begin her career in Florida. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist with funeral costs, with additional funds set to benefit a charity in her honor.
“She was so close to reaching her dreams,” Spillner’s sister, Courtney, told local media. “The last thing we said to each other was that we loved each other — I’ll hold that forever.”
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