Judge Considering Verdict in Austin Teen's Murder Trial

Austin, MN (KROC-AM News) - The fate of an Austin teenager is now in the hands of a Mower County judge.

Judge Takes Murder Case Under Advisement

The judge today took the case of 18-year-old Philip Tyreck Gills under advisement after listening to closing arguments from the defense and prosecution. Gills has been on trial since last week and faces two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of first-degree manslaughter.

Murder Case Moved to Adult Court

According to court documents, Gills was 16 years old when he allegedly will and killed a man and wounded another on February 15 of last year. He was originally charged as a juvenile but was later certified to stand trial in adult court.

Shooting Victim Found Inside Vehicle

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. Marys Hospital for treatment.

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Witnesses Assist Police in Locating Suspect

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.

Police Executed Search Warrant

A search warrant was executed at the residence, and the criminal complaint says investigators found clothing matching the descriptions provided by the witnesses inside a washing machine. Another juvenile living in the home told investigators that Gills had been involved in a heated phone conversation earlier in the day before he left.

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The court document says the juvenile witness stated that Gills was sweating and breathing heavily, as if he had been running, when he returned to the residence approximately five minutes after the deadly shooting was reported. The witness also told police that Gills changed his clothing after returning.

Self Defense Claim

During the trial, Gills was called to the witness stand and claimed the shooting was an act of self-defense.

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Gallery Credit: Michelle Heart