Suspect in killing of Milwaukee city worker found guilty of lesser charge
Updated: 4:21 p.m. on May 30, 2018
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- One of the men accused of killing a Milwaukee city worker is now facing decades behind bars.
After about four hours of deliberations Wednesday, a jury found 18-year-old Deshaun Scott guilty of felony murder for his role in the death of Greg 'Ziggy' Zyszkiewicz.
Throughout Scott's trial, the prosecution was trying to prove Scott was guilty of first-degree reckless homicide.
The charge carries a greater penalty than felony murder, but the jury did not think the state proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Scott was the one who shot Zyszkiewicz. Scott was facing several charges for his role in the crime.
The jury also found Scott guilty of possessing a firearm and fleeing police. He was found not guilty for the armed robbery of a car that was stolen from a gas station that was used during the attempted carjacking and homicide of Zyszkiewicz.
Scott now faces 51 years in prison.
"I'm glad the jury listened to the facts and the law made a very tough decision and that is to step down to felony murder. My client certainly was part of the carjacking incident that resulted in a horrible death and he's going to have to take responsibility for that," said Michael Plaisted, defense attorney.
Eric Smiley and Qhualun Shaw are also facing felony murder for their role in Zyszkiewicz's homicide. During the trial, Shaw testified saying Scott was the shooter and video was shown of Scott admitting to it during police interviews.
"Scott did not confess for some unknown reason to take the punishment that somebody else deserves. He confessed because he did this," said prosecuting attorney Michael Lonski.
If the jury had found Scott guilty of the greater charge of reckless homicide, he would be facing more prison time. But no gun was ever found and the jury agreed there was not enough evidence to charge Scott as the shooter. However, the defense realizes that the decision doesn't provide closure for Ziggy's family.
"They are not going to have a shooter now, legally designated as such. I think that's what this trial was about because Scott is all they had after the investigation was over," Plaisted said.
Scott will be sentenced July 30. Also in July, Shaw is scheduled for a plea hearing and Smiley is scheduled for trial.
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Posted: 12:26 p.m. on May 30, 2018
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A verdict is reached in the murder of beloved city worker, Greg 'Ziggy' Zyszkiewicz.
Deshaun Scott was accused of pulling the trigger that killed Zyszkiewicz in March 2017, facing a charge of first-degree reckless homicide. Instead, a jury found Scott guilty of a lesser charge, felony murder. He was also found guilty of two other felonies. One other count was dismissed and he was acquitted on another.
During the trial, video was shown of Scott confessing to police that he was the one who shot Zyszkiewicz with a shotgun during an attempted carjacking in March 2017.
Scott is facing 51 years in prison. He'll be sentenced on July 30.
This is a developing story. CBS 58 has a crew at the courthouse working to gather reaction to the verdict.