Updated: Suspect in Double Shooting in Court
Posted at: 12/23/2012 8:15 AM
| Updated at: 12/24/2012 2:14 PM
By: Jon Ellis and Laurie Stribling
lstribling@wdio.com
The suspect in a double shooting in Grand Rapids appeared in court on Monday morning.
He is 26-year-old William Levi Payne, of Bovey. He faces 8 felonies, including kidnapping and attempted murder. His bail was set at $1 million dollars.
Grand Rapids police say he shot two people Saturday night.
The criminal complaint said that Payne called police himself after the shooting, and said he just killed two people. He then allegedly old law enforcement they could come and pick him up.
The complaint said that Payne's wife had gone to visit a friend that night, at the home on the 500 block of 10th Avenue NW. She was in the bathroom, when she heard yelling and gunshots.
Payne allegedy pointed the gun at his wife, and said, "You come with me right now, if you don't, I'll kill you too." Payne dragged her to the car, and ordered her to drive towards Marble, MN.
According to the complaint, Payne pointed the gun at his wife's head and at her body.
The two shooting victims were taken to an area hospital, and then airlifted to Duluth where they are listed in critical condition.
They have been identified as Paul Russell Johnson, 32, and Rosemary Oberg Johnson, 59.
Police said that Rosemary is Paul's mother.
"It's very tragic," Police Chief Jim Denny said. "It's even more tragic as it comes upon the holiday season."
Neighbors down the street were sad to hear the news and shocked it happened just a few doors down.
"I can't believe it," neighbor Richard Akre said. "It's a pretty quiet neighborhood. You dont hear of anything like that."
The Minnesota BCA is assisting with the scene.
Advocates for Family Peace in Grand Rapids released a statement, saying that, "Today what we need is action to prevent this tragedy from ever happening again." The crimes were domestic violence related.
Payne had been in court just last week. A judge had granted an order for protection against him, on behalf of his wife.
In that order, it said that Payne and his wife have been married since March, 2007. They have two young children.
The order said that the relationship between the two adults has deteriorated significantly since April, and several incidents of domestic abuse have occurred recently. Just two weeks ago, Payne allegedly was waving a firearm around his home, and smashed his wife's cell phone. He also allegedly followed her and switched lanes several times to be by the vehicle she was in.
We'll have more details, later on Eyewitness News at 5pm.
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