Taylor man found guilty of manslaughter after shooting man over firewood

TAYLOR, Mich. (FOX 2) - A Taylor man has been found guilty of multiple charges including manslaughter after a dispute with his neighbor turned deadly. 

Eddie Arnold Hicks, 73, was also found guilty by jury trial of manslaughter and a single count of felony firearm. The incident stems from a fight in 2021 with a 46-year-old man.

The suspect's family originally reported Hicks was attacked by the victim after getting into a fight with them over firewood. They said Hicks had retrieved a firearm and shot the other man after being attacked, claiming it was in self-defense. 

The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said the two had gotten into a fight before Hicks shot the victim, rejecting claims the shooting was in self-defense.

The incident happened in the 6400 block of Cornell Street in Taylor. Police arrived around 5:20 p.m.

A jury found Hicks guilty on Nov. 9. A review hearing is scheduled for Nov. 17. 

A previous version of this story mis-reported that the defendant was found guilty of second-degree murder. He was found not guilty of second-degree murder. The story has been updated with the correct details.