Dubuque Man Gets 15 Years in Prison For Fatal Shooting

A Dubuque man on Monday was sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison for a fatal shooting on July 2nd. 26 year old Deonte WB Ellison was sentenced in Iowa District Court of Dubuque County to 10 years for voluntary manslaughter — a charge which a jury found him guilty of about a month ago. Ellison fatally shot 25 year old Curtis Smothers Jr. on July 2nd on Loras Boulevard. Ellison also was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. At his trial in March, the prosecution and defense agreed that Ellison shot Smothers following an argument, but the sides disputed whether Ellison did so with premeditation or in self-defense. Traffic camera footage documented the incident.