Phillips Found Guilty of Manslaughter, Not Guilty on Original Charges

Phillips Found Guilty of Manslaughter, Not Guilty on Original Charges

David Phillips Jr. has been found guilty of Manslaughter in the death of Israel Matos-Colon.

Despite the Manslaughter charge, Phillips, 22, of Louisiana, has been found not guilty of second-degree murder, possession of a stolen firearm, and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony by the jury that oversaw his trial.

The charges stem from an incident on March 1st, 2023, where Phillips and Matos-Colon, who were coworkers at BULT Wireless, got into a workplace argument just north of Hartington.

Phillips testified Friday that Matos-Colon had attempted to fight him before Phillips shot the firearm that resulted in Matos Colon’s death.

Phillip’s attorney, Todd Lancaster, says that Phillips could serve a maximum of twenty years.

Phillips is scheduled for sentencing on July 22nd.