Murder Suspect Pleads Guilty in Love Triangle Shooting
By:
SUPERIOR - The Arizona man involved in a love triangle gone wrong has admitted to killing a Duluth man.
In court Monday afternoon, 41-year-old Juan Padilla along with his attorney said the victim’s family has been through enough and switched his plea to guilty.
Padilla is accused of shooting 46-year-old Terry Lukkonen of Duluth in May 2013.
Police say Padilla didn’t know Lukkonen personally, but Knew of each other through a woman.
Evidence shows Padilla was jealous of Lukkonen and his fiancé’s relationship.
Police say Lukkonen was shot inside his vehicle at work in Superior.
Padilla is facing a class-A felony of intentional homicide.
His lawyer says he understands he has no other option but life in prison.
The state of Wisconsin also lowered the sentence from life in prison, to life in prison with a petition for parole with supervision after 20 years which is the lowest form of life in prison.
“It’s the most serious crime in the books,” said Douglas County District Attorney, Dan Blank.
Padilla remains in custody in the Douglas County Jail with no bail.
He will be sentenced October 13 at 1:30 p.m.