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Complaint: Shooter's Paranoia May Have Kicked in When Stranger Walked Up

Feb. 2, 2024 4:20p; Edited 2-3 for clarity

(WGTD)---According to at least one version of events, the man who was shot and killed last month in the parking lot of a Pleasant Prairie shopping center was out looking to buy marijuana cartridges but approached the wrong car. 

The story is outlined in the 1st Degree Intentional Homicide criminal complaint that was filed Friday against 29-year-old Marchello Jones. The Milwaukee man allegedly shot and killed 46-year-old Anton Space as Space approached his vehicle in the parking lot of the Dollar Tree off of Highway 50.

According to the complaint, Marchello, his wife, Maria Jones, and a child had been shopping at the store and were preparing to drive off. At about the same time, video surveillance shows Space pulling up and parking nearby. Space is observed walking up to the front passenger door of Jones' vehicle. A puff of smoke can be seen emanating from the window just before Space crumples to the ground. The Jones' then drive off.

Maria Jones, who initially claimed that she had fired the gun in order to protect Marchello, a convicted felon from harsher prosecution, changed her story to say that Marchelllo had fired after Space tried the door handle of their vehicle, explaining that Marchello always carried a gun because he was paranoid about being killed.  

Based on an examination of the victim's phone, police theorize that Space had gone to the area to buy $40 worth of marijuana "carts" from a dealer whom he'd dealt with in the past. Instead of connecting with the dealer, Space walked up to the wrong car. The complaint said Space had $40 in his hand when he fell to the ground.   

Bond for Marchello Jones was set Friday at $500,000.

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