Austin Teen Acquitted of Murder, Guilty of Attempted Manslaughter
Austin, MN (KROC-AM News) - An Austin teenager has been acquitted of murder and attempted murder charges but found guilty of attempted first-degree manslaughter.
Verdict in Austin Murder Case
A Mower County judge filed the verdict late Thursday afternoon in the case of 18-year-old Philip Tyreck Gills. He was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, second-degree attempted murder, and first-degree attempted manslaughter in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred in Austin in February of last year.
Gills was 16 years old at the time of the shooting and was originally charged as a juvenile but was later certified to stand trial in adult court.
Shooting Victim Found in His Car
The criminal complaint says Austin police found 27-year-old Opoka James Nathanael shot to death in the driver's seat of his vehicle, while a passenger managed to escape after being shot twice and was transported to St. Mary's Hospital for treatment of life-threatening gunshot wounds.
The charges state that a witness reported hearing gunshots and saw a Black male wearing a tan hoodie and black pants exit from the rear passenger seat of the vehicle and run away. The criminal complaint says three other witnesses then helped Austin police officers track a suspect to a home located about six blocks from the crime scene.
Credible Claim of Self Defense
The verdict in the case says the judge found Gills' claim that he was acting in self-defense when he fatally shot Nathanael to be credible. During his trial, Gills testified that Nathanael had threatened to shoot him and harm his younger siblings.
Acted in the Heat of Passion
The judge rejected Gills' self-defense claims regarding the shooting of the other man in the vehicle, noting that Gills did not know the passenger and had no reason to fear imminent harm from him. The verdict, which acquitted Gills of attempted murder for shooting the passenger, indicates that the evidence supports a finding that Gills was acting in the heat of passion and is guilty of attempted manslaughter.
His sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
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Gallery Credit: Troy Dunken
