MILWAUKEE — Jordan Fricke, who was accused of shooting and killing Milwaukee Police Officer Matthew Rittner on Feb. 6, was found guilty Friday on all counts.
Jurors deliberated for about an hour Friday before returning their verdict. Fricke was found guilty of first-degree intentional homicide, reckless endangering safety of two officers and maintaining a drug trafficking place.
Fricke faces a mandatory life sentence in prison for the homicide charge. He will be sentenced Aug. 29.
Fricke testified Friday he fired in self-defense. Fricke said he thought he heard gunshots before he fired an AK-47 pistol through his door at Officer Rittner.
Fricke and his attorney said he dropped his weapon when he learned officers were at his door.
Prosecutors said Fricke had to know it was police because they loudly announced their presence. They also proved Fricke never mentioned thinking he heard gunshots until he took the stand Friday.
Rittner was using a battering ram while serving a search warrant at Fricke's home, where he was shot and killed.
Fricke's defense attorney said Fricke bought a gun in 2013 for protection because he felt his neighborhood was unsafe and after then-Sheriff David Clarke Jr. told residents to arm themselves because police were slow to respond.
Despite police finding no marijuana or illegal guns inside his apartment, prosecutors say Fricke made calls from jail about having $60,000 cash stashed in his grandmother's home he needed for a lawyer.
Fricke said he had not paid his taxes in three years because he doesn't trust banks or the federal government.
He also says he made the money from detailing cars. Fricke admitted he sold up to 1 pound of marijuana occasionally to close friends though he denied being a drug dealer.
