MILWAUKEE — A jury has reached a verdict about whether a Milwaukee man was mentally ill when he killed his teenage neighbor last year after accusing the boy of stealing his guns.
The jury already convicted 76-year-old John Henry Spooner of first-degree intentional homicide. They're about to announce a verdict Friday about whether he was mentally ill when he pulled the trigger.
If he's found sane, he'll face a mandatory life sentence. Otherwise he could face life in a mental institution.
Spooner testified that he killed 13-year-old Darius Simmons because he wanted "justice" for his stolen guns. Police searched Darius' home but didn't find the weapons.
Defense attorney Franklyn Gimbel says his client didn't realize his actions were wrong.
Prosecutor Mark Williams counters that Spooner was just angry, not mentally ill.
