Apple Valley Man Gets Smaller Prison Sentence In Killing Of His Ex

APPLE VALLEY, MN — An Apple Valley man was sentenced on Monday to 120 months in prison for his role in the July 2022 shootout death of his ex-girlfriend, 49-year-old Michelle McGill.

Willie John Selmon II, 41, pled guilty to one count of second-degree murder (drive-by shooting) in June 2024.

Selmon received a downward durational departure from the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines. State prosecutors had asked the court for 261 months in prison.

McGill's son — Billy Joe Pryor Jr., 27 — also faces a second-degree murder charge. His next court date is scheduled for March 2025.

Apple Valley shootout

Apple Valley police were dispatched to a weapons call in the 900 block of Oriole Drive just before 6:30 p.m. on July 10, 2022.

McGill was found dead on a residential driveway with multiple gunshot wounds in her lower abdomen, chest, and a shot to her thigh, according to authorities.

Police said Selmon left the scene in a tan SUV and went to a hospital for the gunshot wound in his head.

Later, Selmon told police that he'd been in a long-term relationship with McGill but they had recently broken up, according to the criminal complaint. The two had shared a home in Apple Valley, police said.

On July 10, Selmon went to the house to get some of his stuff, according to authorities. At the house, McGill and Pryor were each in their own cars that were parked in the driveway.

Selmon parked his SUV in the driveway behind McGill's vehicle, walked to the garage to retrieve some belongings, and then returned to his vehicle, according to the criminal complaint.

Pryor backed up his car so it was adjacent to Selmon's vehicle and made a statement to Selmon about having a gun, investigators said.

Pryor then fired shots at Selmon while they were both still in their cars, according to police. Pryor shot Selmon in the face, investigators said.

After being shot, Selmon left his car and ran to the front of McGill's vehicle, thinking that Pryor would stop shooting if his mother was between them, according to the criminal complaint.

Pryor then exited his vehicle, went to the passenger's side and the two exchanged gunfire, police said.

During the gunfire, McGill — who was still seated in her vehicle in the driveway between Pryor and Selmon — was fatally shot, according to investigators. An autopsy found that McGill had been shot ten times, according to authorities.

Salmon was shot at least twice in his head, and there is a bullet lodged in his jaw that will require surgery to remove, police said.