The scissors were never in her hands, but by the time that became clear, the bullet had already left the gun. According to investigators, 32-year-old Jamica Mills shot her friend, 26-year-old Ariel Spillner, during a chaotic and horrifying moment inside a Milwaukee home on the night of November 4.The two women had
been hanging out, smoking marijuana, and relaxing after a long day. But at some point, something shifted. Mills later told detectives she became convinced—irrationally and without evidence—that Ariel was about to stab her with a pair of grooming scissors she had earlier used while working on a dog. Police, however, found no scissors near Ariel’s body and no indication she had threatened Mills at all.
Ariel, a pharmacy student with a reputation for kindness and ambition, collapsed face-down between a couch and an ottoman after being shot through the shoulder. The bullet tore through vital tissue and structures, causing catastrophic internal damage that killed her within moments. Investigators say she likely never had time to register what was happening.
After the shooting, Mills walked toward the front door, gun still in hand, and fired another round into her own stomach. She later told police the second shot was an accident. A neighbor called 911 after hearing gunfire, and officers arrived to find Ariel already dead and Mills seriously wounded but conscious. Mills was transported to a local hospital and survived her injury.
Detectives are still piecing together what happened in those final minutes between two women who were supposed to be friends. Toxicology reports, witness interviews, and forensic analysis will all play a role in determining whether Mills’ claims of fear hold any credibility or whether drugs, paranoia, or deeper conflicts fueled the deadly misunderstanding.For Ariel’s loved ones, the details offer little comfort. A young woman with a bright future is gone, taken by violence that makes no sense and never should have happened.
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