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Pharmacy Student Fatally Shot in North Side Residence; Suspect, a Friend, Arrested After Double Shooting
MILWAUKEE — (DailyKenn.com) Ariel Spillner, a 26-year-old pharmacy student on the cusp of graduation, was fatally shot Tuesday night in a Milwaukee residence, leaving her family and university community reeling from the sudden loss of a vibrant young woman known for her kindness and athletic spirit.
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Jamica Mills, 32, was charged with first-degree reckless homicide with a use of a dangerous weapon modifier, online court records show.
The shooting unfolded around 9:40 p.m. in the 5100 block of North 39th Street, near Lancaster Avenue, in a quiet north side neighborhood, according to Milwaukee police. Officers responded to reports of gunfire and found Spillner suffering from gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. A 31-year-old woman, also wounded by gunfire, was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and taken into custody shortly after.
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| Census tract for 5101 North 39th Street, Milwaukee WI |
Investigators believe the incident stemmed from a dispute at a gathering, possibly a birthday party, inside the home. Spillner, who grew up in the Dane County area and had been living near Menomonee Falls while attending school, was reportedly there with friends. Hours earlier, around 8 p.m., she had been on a lighthearted FaceTime call with her mother and older sister, Courtney Spillner, sharing laughs and stories as usual. "We told each other we loved each other when we hung up," Courtney recounted, her voice breaking. "This time, it's just a little more special."
No eyewitness accounts from neighbors or other attendees have been publicly detailed, as the altercation appeared confined to the residence. Spillner's family confirmed she knew the suspect socially. "She was friends with her," Courtney said, expressing shock at the betrayal. The Milwaukee Police Department referred first-degree reckless homicide charges to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office on Wednesday, though formal filing awaits the suspect's recovery and further review. Detectives continue to canvass for additional leads, urging tips to (414) 935-7360 or anonymously via Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-TIPS.
Spillner, originally from Arena in Iowa County and a 2017 DeForest High School graduate, was a standout athlete in soccer, basketball, volleyball and cross country. She earned a bachelor's in chemistry from Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa, where she played women's basketball through 2021, helping the team reach NAIA national tournaments. Holding a master's in natural products from Concordia University Wisconsin, she was in her final year of the School of Pharmacy in Mequon, set to graduate in 2026. A third-degree black belt in karate, she was remembered by loved ones as a "radiant soul" with an "infectious smile" who "would do anything for anybody."
On Thursday, family members joined classmates, professors and friends at a vigil in Pharmacy Room 147 on campus, where tears flowed amid shared stories of her generosity. "She lit up a room," one classmate said. Concordia University issued a statement of profound grief, offering counseling and pastoral care: "Our hearts and prayers are with Ariel’s family, friends, classmates, and all who knew and loved her." A GoFundMe has raised over $5,000 for funeral costs, with donors calling her "the biggest heart" in any circle.
The tragedy has amplified calls for gun violence prevention in Milwaukee, where homicides have ticked upward this year. Community leaders in the Old North Milwaukee area expressed condolences, with one resident noting the rarity of such violence in their block. As the investigation deepens, Spillner's loved ones cling to memories of her promise, mourning the milestones—graduation, career, family—she'll never reach.
Pharmacy student shot, killed in Milwaukee https://www.wisn.com/article/pharmacy-student-shot-killed-in-milwaukee/69267681
Milwaukee shooting: Family identifies woman killed Tuesday https://www.fox6now.com/news/milwaukee-shooting-victim-39th-lancaster
Concordia University pharmacy student fatally shot; woman wounded and arrested https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/crime/2025/11/06/concordia-pharmacy-student-fatally-shot/87122730007/
Pharmacy student remembered for 'infectious smile' after fatal Milwaukee shooting https://www.tmj4.com/news/milwaukee-county/pharmacy-student-remembered-for-infectious-smile-after-fatal-milwaukee-shooting
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