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Parents of Milwaukee Boy Killed By Elderly Neighbor Win Civil Suit

The parents of a 13-year-old Milwaukee boy fatally shot by an elderly neighbor have won a civil judgement against the convicted killer, John Spooner.

Spooner suspected the boy had burglarized his home, so he confronted and shot the teen in front of his mother.

A Milwaukee judge on Friday awarded $1.2 million to Patricia Larry, mother of Darius Simmons, and $300,00 to the boy's father, Darius Simmons, Sr.

However, since the state caps such damages at $500,000, the judge appropriated $400,000 to Larry and $100,000 to Simmons.

Larry's attorney says collecting damages from 77-year-old John Spooner is unlikely because he's serving life in prison.  But, he says the ruling ensures that any assets discovered in Spooner's estate will go to the boy's parents.

Marti was a reporter with WUWM from 1999 to 2021.