Wilson gets 3-year prison term for backyard shooting

A La Crosse man praised by his relatives as a “wonderful” husband and father will spend roughly 2 years in prison for shooting another man in May of last year. 

Ellis Wilson was scheduled to be tried next month for attempted murder in the wounding of Justin Tillman, but Wilson pled guilty on Wednesday to a lesser charge of reckless injury. 

“I’m just ready to move forward, and get back home to my kids, so I can raise them, do better things, make better choices,” said Wilson during the plea hearing and sentencing.

Tillman was left paralyzed by the shooting in Wilson’s back yard on 5th Avenue, and claimed that Wilson shot him for saying insulting things during a rap contest. 

Judge Todd Bjerke said that Wilson apparently carried a gun because he felt threatened by other men who are larger than him, calling that Wilson’s “first mistake, thinking you need to protect yourself like that…because of the people you associate with.”

“That should tell you right there you need to change your friends and acquaintances,” Bjerke said.

Wilson’s mother-in-law said that he “was full of dope” before the shooting, and should be given another chance.  The 3-year prison sentence for Wilson includes credit for a year spent in the county jail since Tillman was shot.   It will be followed by 7 years of supervision.