Schoolcraft man, 45, charged with murder of neighbor, posted $1 million bond

SCHOOLCRAFT, Mich. – A Schoolcraft man was charged Tuesday in connection with the killing of his neighbor, according to the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office.

Eric Newman, 45, was charged with open murder and aggravated firearms crimes after an argument with his neighbor Ronald Erickson, 53, who was shot to death Sunday, officials said.

According to the sheriff's office, authorities were called to a residence on East VW Avenue east of South 18th Street around 10:30 p.m. after a caller reported someone had been shot.

The two neighbors got into a confrontation before Newman allegedly shot Erickson, who was pronounced dead at the scene when emergency responders arrived, officials said.

Details of the confrontation are currently unknown.

Newman's bond was set at $1 million and is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary examination on October 15, 2024.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office at 269-383-8748 or Silent Observer at 269-343-2100.