LocalMichiganNews

Lawrence man charged with two counts of second-degree murder after New Year’s Eve gunfire deaths

(Photo supplied/Van Buren County Jail)

The man charged after firing his gun during a New Year’s Eve party in Lawrence Township, killing two other men, has been arraigned.

Christopher Alan Toppenberg, 62, of Lawrence, is charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of felony firearm.

It was shortly after 12 a.m. on Jan. 1, when officers were called to the 57000 block of 60th Avenue in Lawrence Township. On scene, they found Jason McCreary, 40, of Sutter Creek, California, shot in the head and dead at the scene. They also found David Reed, 35, of Waverly Township, who suffered several gunshot wounds to the back. He was taken to the hospital where he died.

Toppenberg is scheduled to appear in court, again, on Jan. 17, for his preliminary examination.

Toppenberg’s bond was set at $1,500,000.

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2 comments

Adam January 5, 2023 at 10:07 am

This irresponsible gun owners should know better at his age of 62. Two people are dead because of his childish stupidity. Responsible gun owners are not shooting off firearms on New Years Eve.

Reply
Thor January 6, 2023 at 10:38 am

One person shot in the head and another several times in the back does not sound like celebratory gunfire. Irresponsibly shooting a gun in the air does not get you one person shot several times in the back.

This is why he is charged with murder and not something implying it was an accident. It just happened at a New Year’s Eve party.

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