Milwaukee man gets life without parole in triple-homicide

Updated: 6:36 p.m. on February 23, 2018

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- A man with a history of mental illness has been sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for killing three of his neighbors in a Milwaukee apartment building.

Dan Popp was sentenced Friday, about three months after he was convicted of first-degree intentional homicide in the March 2016 shooting deaths of Phia Vue, his wife, Mai Vue, and Jesus Manso-Perez. The jury rejected Popp's insanity defense, finding he was mentally ill but able to conform his behavior to the law.

Prosecutors say Popp shot Manso-Perez shortly after asking and learning he was from Puerto Rico. He then forced his way into the Vues' apartment as the Hmong couple, their four children and a relative hid in a bedroom. He then killed the couple.

Popp, who is white, was not charged with a hate crime.

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MILWAUKEE (CBS58) -- Dan Popp, 41, will be sentenced in the Milwaukee County Courthouse Friday for the murder of three of his neighbors. The judge had delayed the verdict back in Nov. 2017 but has decided to move forward with sentencing. 

Popp was found mentally ill but knew what he was doing when he killed husband and wife, Phia and Mai Vue, and Jesus Manso-Perez in March 2016, according to the jury's verdict in Nov. 

He was also convicted of attempted homicide of Jesus Manso-Carrasquillo. 

The judge denied requests to send Popp to a mental institution or to have another trial. Popp faces life in prison.