Jury convicts Sioux Falls man of drug deal killing

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – A jury has convicted a Sioux Falls man of killing another man during a drug deal last year.

Thirty-six-year-old Manuel Frias was found guilty Monday of second-degree murder. The Argus Leader reports Frias was acquitted of first-degree murder.

Frias was charged in the death of 28-year-old Samuel Crockett. Frias testified at his trial that he killed Crockett in self-defense.

Prosecutors say Frias, Corey Zephier and Crystal Habben planned to rob Crockett during a drug deal in January 2018. Frias was accused of shooting Crockett after Crockett killed Zephier during the holdup.

Crockett died at a hospital. The 30-year-old Zephier died at the scene of the shooting. Habben pleaded guilty to being an accessory to a felony, was sent to prison and is now on parole.

AP-WF-08-13-19