The 36-year-old former Beloit man accused of shooting his house mate to death in December of 2020 is found guilty of a lesser charge after a two-and-a-half day jury trial.

Mario Tucker was originally charged with first-degree intentional homicide in connection with death of 50-year-old Dwayne Wiggins. After about three hours of deliberation Wednesday the jury found Tucker guilty of second-degree intentional homicide.

According to the criminal complaint, Tucker shot Wiggins twice in a dispute over the use of profanity in a rehabilitation home on 10th Street in Beloit, where they both lived at the time of the shooting.

After tucker fled the scene on foot, arresting officers observed him throw a silver object off of the Portland Avenue bridge. The murder weapon was never recovered.

Tucker’s defense attorney Melissa Frost said there’s no question that her client shot Wiggins, but it was because he feared for his safety.