Two people died from ‘celebratory gunfire’ at New Year’s Eve party in Van Buren County. Let’s see more details about the tragic shooting and the suspect Christopher Toppenberg in the following paragraphs.
What happened at New Year’s Eve party in Van Buren County: Celebratory gunfire
The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office says celebratory gunfire killed two people at a New Year’s Eve Party on Sunday. Deputies were called to a property along 60th Avenue in Lawrence Township around 12:05 a.m. on a report of two men injured.
Deputies were called to a property along 60th Avenue in Lawrence Township around 12:05 a.m. on a report of two men injured.
Once on scene, they found a 40-year-old California resident Jason McCreary dead of a gunshot wound to his head. David Reed, a 35-year-old Waverly Township man, was alive but later died at the hospital. Christopher Toppenberg was the suspect at that time.
2 dead from 'celebratory gunfire' at New Year's Eve party in Van Buren County – https://t.co/VHyo0UQ0mP
— Jörg (@jm3107) January 2, 2023
Who is Christopher Toppenberg?
A suspect of Celebratory gunfire is 62 year old man.
The suspect accused of killing two people in Lawrence Township during the early morning hours of New Year’s Day. He has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder.
The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office says 62-year-old Christopher Toppenberg was arraigned Wednesday for the deaths of Jason McCreary and David Reed, who they say died by celebratory gunfire.
Deputies arrested a 62-year-old man at the scene for multiple counts of reckless discharge of a firearm causing death.
The initial investigation indicates the victims were setting off fireworks to ring in the New Year. When the suspect pulled out an AR-15-styled rifle and began to fire in celebration.
Sheriff recommends people not keep Guns during Celebration
“The suspect Christopher Toppenberg felt the fireworks had ended and there was no one down there,” said Sgt. Greg Pentland in an interview. “He grabbed his rifle, acknowledged verbally, and then began firing bullets in the direction of where the fireworks had been set off.
They were still down there among the pyrotechnics when they were both shots.” According to Pentland, there were only about ten people at the party, and nearly everyone knew each other.
He mentions that the sheriff’s office advises people not to celebrate with guns and to keep them put away in a safe during gatherings.
Two dead from 'celebratory gunfire' at New Year's Eve party in Van Buren County https://t.co/lXzo77Mcbz
— william e graham (@billyinjackson) January 2, 2023
Innocent Lives are affected
Many Innocent lives are affected during this Celebratory gunfire.
“Three families are affected, and three lives will be changed forever,” Pentland explained. “Once we introduce firearms into an atmosphere that isn’t monitored by safety personnel, adequate backstops, or anything along those lines… there’s just too much that may go wrong.”
At this time, no names have been disclosed. According to deputies, the suspect will be arraigned on Tuesday. Additional charges are not out of the question.
Suspect charged with two counts of felony firearm
A Lawrence Township man who allegedly killed two people by celebratory gunfire at a New Year’s gathering is now facing two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of felony firearm.
We’re told Toppenberg was also charged with two counts of felony firearm. Toppenberg is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary exam on Tuesday, Jan. 17. He was placed on a $1.5 million cash or surety bond. Toppenberg is scheduled to appear again in court in mid-January.
Second-degree murder charges are punishable by up to life in prison.
97.5 Y-Country Posted
From The Newsroom: Lawrence man charged with murder in wake of NYE party deaths
From The Newsroom: Lawrence man charged with murder in wake of NYE party deaths https://t.co/beH0Hcw5vc
— 97.5 Y-Country (@975ycountry) January 5, 2023
Fox17 Posted
UPDATE: The man accused of killing two people in Van Buren County with “celebratory gunfire” on New Year’s Day has been charged with second-degree murder, deputies say.
Joel Collins Posted
why man?? why? couldn’t handle your booze and have fun like most other people. you got some demons, bro
Twenty Too Posted
I received some very life-changing and tragic news about someone very close to me on New Year’s Eve. This going to be about the 4th death in my life in the last year. Cancer has taken so many people away from me.
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