Ronald Erickson

Ronald Dale Erickson, known to his loved ones as Ron, was a 53-year-old White man from Vicksburg, Michigan. A 1989 graduate of Vicksburg High School, he worked for many years as an insulator before an accident led to his early retirement. His family was the cornerstone of his world; he was a cherished father to a son and daughter and a proud grandfather to three grandchildren. Described by those who knew him as intelligent, loving, and interesting, Ron was passionate about spending time with his family, as well as his interests in music and disc golfing.

On the night of September 29, 2024, Ron's life was cut short. At a residence on East VW Avenue in the nearby town of Schoolcraft, a dispute between Ron and his neighbor escalated into a fatal confrontation. Around 10:30 p.m., the neighbor, 45-year-old Eric Newman, shot Erickson. When deputies from the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office arrived at the scene, they found Ron had succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office launched an immediate investigation and quickly arrested Eric Newman in connection with the shooting. On October 1, 2024, prosecutors formally charged Newman with open murder and felony firearms. During his arraignment, a judge set his bond at $1 million, and a preliminary examination was scheduled for later that month.

In August 2025, Eric Andrew Newman went to trial for the killing of his neighbor. During the court proceedings, Newman claimed that he had acted in self-defense. After hearing the evidence presented by the prosecution, the jury rejected his claim and found him guilty of murder.

Two months later, in October 2025, Newman appeared in court for sentencing. A judge ordered him to serve decades in prison for Ronald Erickson's murder, bringing the legal proceedings in the case to a close.