VAN BUREN COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – A man charged in a New Year’s gathering in Van Buren County that turned deadly is getting ready to spend time behind bars.
Authorities say 62-year-old Christopher Toppenberg allegedly fired 20 to 25 celebratory rounds from an AR-15 when fireworks were lit at midnight on January 1 of this year. The spray of bullets hit and killed 35-year-old David Reed of Waverly Township, and 40-year-old Jason McCreary of Sutter Creek, California.
According to the 36th District Court, Toppenberg was charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of felony firearm. In June, he pled guilty to one count of felony weapons/firearms – use or discharge under the influence causing death.
Detectives say Toppenberg and the two victims were all attendees of a New Year’s party at the suspect’s rental property in Lawrence.
He was sentenced on Monday, July 17 to one year in jail with a credit of 167 days served and three years probation.
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