Man convicted in racist 2019 acid attack in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A jury has convicted a white Milwaukee man who was accused of throwing acid on a Latino man’s face throughout a racist assault in 2019.

Clifton Blackwell, 64, was found responsible Thursday of first-degree reckless injury, with a harmful weapon, as a hate crime. He faces as much as 20 years in prison at his sentencing Might 18.

The jury rejected Blackwell’s argument that he acted in self-defense after arguing with Mahud Villalaz over street parking in November 2019 in Milwaukee. He accused Villalaz, who suffered second-degree burns, of being in the nation illegally and invading the USA.

Blackwell was waiting for a bus when he advised Villalaz that he had parked his truck illegally in a bus cease zone outside a restaurant, prosecutors said. The 2 might be seen on surveillance video, however not heard, and Blackwell could be seen retrieving an aluminum bottle from his satchel.

Villalaz moved his truck to a different parking spot and headed again toward the restaurant. The two argued once more and Blackwell splashed the contents of the bottle, which was acidic drain cleaner, in Villalaz’s face.

Villalaz, 43, testified in the course of the trial that his vision in his left eye has been completely affected.

Blackwell stated he carried the drain cleaner for self-defense at night because he’s disabled, and had been attacked on the streets earlier than. He said he was scared when Villalaz bought so offended, and splashed the liquid just as Villalaz made a fist and appeared to be about to strike him, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

Villalaz is a U.S. citizen who immigrated from Peru. He testified he was offended at Blackwell for telling him he “invaded” his country and will “return,” but didn’t want to damage anybody.

Blackwell was taken into custody after the verdict.