A tragic incident unfolded when a pharmacy student was reportedly shot and killed by her friend during a panic attack, according to the police.

On November 4, Ariel Spillner, 26, lost her life in Milwaukee after spending the evening celebrating the birthday of her friend, 32-year-old Jamica Mills.

The criminal complaint reveals that Mills allegedly shot Spillner accidentally, driven by paranoia that the pharmacy student intended to stab her while they were smoking marijuana together.

Further details from the complaint indicate that Mills also shot herself in the stomach amid the turmoil, asserting that she never intended to kill Spillner.

Mills explained to authorities that Spillner was initially supposed to trim her dog’s hair using scissors. However, Mills became paranoid, fearing her friend might attack her with the scissors, prompting her to retrieve a gun from her bedroom, the complaint states.

When she returned, Mills said that Spillner made a ‘hand motion’ that panicked her and led her to shoot her at around 9:40pm, police said.

Mills was found inside her home conscious but on the floor with a gunshot wound, and Spillner was pronounced dead at the scene. 

A Ruger LCP .380 caliber handgun and two spent .380 caliber casings were also found in the home.

Milwaukee pharmacy student Ariel Spillner, 26, was allegedly shot and killed by her friend after they suffered a panic attack while smoking weed

Jamica Mills, 32, admitted she shot Spillner but said it was an accident, and claimed she opened fire during a paranoia episode after smoking marijuana and fearing Spillner was going to stab her with scissors 

Mills allegedly became combative as she was transferred to the hospital. 

Police said that she was initially uncooperative when first interviewed and told investigators that she could not remember what happened between waking up in her living room and arriving at hospital. 

But she allegedly changed her story, admitting she and Spillner both became paranoid after smoking weed together, which is illegal for recreational purposes in Milwaukee. 

Although she told detectives that she became anxious about Spillner because she was holding scissors to cut her dog’s hair, Mills said Spillner never made any threats to stab her. 

Mills said that after firing at Spillner, she then walked towards her front door and accidentally shot herself in the stomach. 

Authorities then conducted a search warrant on the home and arrested another person living with Mills. 

That person was accused of lying to the police about the incident, but they have not been formally charged. 

The shooting unfolded around 9:40pm, and police were called to the scene to find both women suffering gunshot wounds as Mills said she also accidentally shot herself in the stomach 

Tributes poured in for Spillner after the shooting, and her family described her as an ambitious and kind-hearted student ‘with the most infectious laugh’ 

Mills is facing charges of first-degree reckless homicide, and remains in custody with a $150,000 bond. She is next due in court on November 17. 

Tributes poured in for Spillner after the shooting and her family described her as an ambitious and kind-hearted student ‘with the most infectious laugh’.

In a GoFundMe set up to pay for funeral expenses, Spillner’s family described her as ‘a light to everyone who knew her – she had the most giving soul with the biggest heart.’ 

Her sister Courtney told WMTV: ‘She was literally the best person you could ask for as a friend, as a sister, as a ‘TT,’ as a daughter. 

‘She was the best to everyone. She would be there for anyone, no matter what you needed, when you needed it.’ 

Courtney said her sister, who was in her final year at Concordia University, would call her at random times to talk about her life, and she said she, ‘answered every single time, and I’m going to miss that’.

She said their final conversation came just an hour before the shooting, and she recalled ‘the last thing we said to each other was that we loved each other, so I am forever holding that memory close’.

Mills, seen at a preliminary hearing, is facing charges of first-degree reckless homicide, and remains in custody with a $150,000 bond 

Spillner’s family said she was ‘the best to everyone’ she met, and ‘would be there for anyone, no matter what you needed, when you needed it’ 

Spillner’s loved ones say they have been left shocked and confused by the shooting, and Courtney said they ‘don’t know anyone who would want to hurt Ariel in any way, shape or form. And it’s hard that an apparent friend would do this to her.’ 

‘To have this happen, it is bizarre, it is overwhelming,’ she said. ‘I don’t know what to believe. I really don’t.’ 

Spillner’s family say they oppose handing Mills a potential plea deal, and hope that the pharmacy student ‘gets the justice that she deserves’.

‘She doesn’t have anyone to speak on her behalf on what happened there,’ Courtney said.