Ex-Chicago police officer pleads guilty in husband's shooting death
Former Chicago cop accused of killing husband pleads guilty
A former Chicago police officer charged with murdering her husband in 2021 pleaded guilty on Tuesday.
CHICAGO - A former Chicago police officer entered a guilty plea on Tuesday after being charged with murdering her husband, who was also a police officer, more than three years ago.
Jacqueline Villaseñor was sentenced to a little over six years in prison, but was given credit for the more than three years for the time she spent in jail. She is only expected to serve one week in prison though, according to other reports. She will also be given one year of mandatory supervised release.
The backstory:
On Nov. 21, 2021, Villaseñor was arguing with her husband, German Villaseñor, in their Northwest Side home.
She allegedly took out a gun and threatened to shoot herself, which led to a struggle when her husband tried to wrestle the gun away.
Former Chicago Police officer Jacqueline Villaseñor (left) was expected to plead guilty to the shooting death of her husband, German Villaseñor, in 2021. (Photos provided)
The gun went off, and Herman was shot in the chest. He died at age 44.
Responding officers believe Jacqueline had been drinking. They found her performing CPR on her husband.
The couple’s son called 911.
Family members believe Jacqueline has been given preferential treatment because she was a police officer.
What they're saying:
At a previous court hearing, Jacqueline’s daughter defended her mother.
"It was a terrible accident, and it was not on purpose," she said. "My family loves each other and …it was an accident."
Details of the plea agreement have not yet been disclosed.
Supporters of Herman appeared in court on Tuesday, they say, to represent his parents, who could not make the trip from Mexico.
In a statement, Leticia Villaseñor, German's mother, said:
"My son dedicated his life to serving & protecting victims. Who is protecting my son? I will never see his beautiful smile again, whose voice I will never hear again. Jaqueline is evil & knew exactly what she was doing when she shot my son right in his heart. Man’s laws may fail my son today but she will never escape God’s Justice."