KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI — A man was sentenced to decades in prison for killing his neighbor after losing his self-defense argument.
Eric Andrew Newman testified during a trial he shot and killed his neighbor, Ronald Erickson, in Schoolcraft Township on Sept. 29, 2024, out of fear.
On Monday, Oct. 20, he was sentenced to 20 to 30 years in prison for second-degree murder. He was sentenced to two years in prison for felony firearm, which will be served consecutive to the murder sentence.
A jury found him guilty of second-degree murder and felony firearm in August, despite Newman’s self-defense claim.
“He was going to attack me or somebody,” Newman said from the witness stand.
The killing happened at 10:33 p.m. Sept. 29, 2024, at 760 East VW Ave.
The two men once got along as neighbors in Schoolcraft, Newman said.
He also claimed Erickson threatened to set him on fire before Newman fatally shot him.
Newman testified he had never seen Erickson physically touch another person. He was taken into custody of the Michigan Department of Corrections after the sentencing this week.
He was 45 at the time of the incident.
Erickson enjoyed music, disc golf and spending time with his grandkids, according to his obituary.
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