November 17, 2017 at 3:42 p.m.
Details emerge in fatal Tomahawk shooting
Chief: Suspect, victim knew each other
Details emerge in fatal Tomahawk shooting
Elvins said police believe the suspect, identified Friday afternoon as Eric Lee Moen, shot Charles L. Ramp with a long gun while the two were standing in Ramp's driveway on West Mohawk Drive.
Ramp, 52, was transported to Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital in Tomahawk where he later died.
Elvins said the shooting was reported by Ramp's wife at 5:47 p.m.
Police say the two men knew each other but no information as to motive was released.
"They have known each other for about four years," Elvins said.
According to Elvins, Moen was at the house when Ramp arrived home and fled the area after the shooting, heading west. He was apprehended without incident as he left a Walmart store in Lake Hallie. Deputies with the Chippewa County Sheriff's Department apprehended him without incident at approximately 11 p.m., he said.
Elvins indicated police believe they know where Moen was headed but declined to release that information.
Police waited several hours Friday before releasing the suspect's name. At the press conference, Elvins said the department wanted to wrap up the investigation before giving out that information.
"We're still executing search warrants and doing the autopsy," he said. "Until that autopsy is complete and I can prove manner of death and cause of death and stuff like that, I'm not going to release the suspect's name. We have him in custody and have sent the information to the DA's office to file the charges on him."
"Keep in mind, this was a little bit over 16 yours ago, so stuff is still fresh, we're still following up on a lot of leads," Elvins added. "While the normal world was sleeping last night, we were out working and trying to develop more information. We're trying to build the best case that we can without contaminating it."
Elvins sent out a press release at 1:45 p.m. Friday identifying Moen as the shooter.
According to the release, Moen is expected to make an initial court appearance Monday.
Elvins noted a statewide alert was sent out after the suspect fled.
"People change cars, they change their appearance, try to change their identities, stuff like that," Elvins said. "There are some background things I'm not going to release on how we located him, because I don't want all the bad guys knowing that, what we do."
He also would not speculate as to whether Moen had purchased clothing or other items in an attempt to change his appearance before he was arrested, saying he had not seen the items purchased at the Walmart store.
"Our primary thing was getting him into custody, getting an interview with him and then moving on," Elvins said.
The chief characterized Moen and Ramp as friends
"These two gentlemen knew each other for 4, 4 1/2 years, they were friends," Elvins said. "We don't know what got this individual upset and take the other person's life. We have recovered the weapon, we have recovered the person and the vehicle that he drove."
Elvins said Moen was at the residence prior to Ramp's arrival talking with Ramp's wife and one other individual.
"He had gone in and spoken to the other family members that were there, waiting on the victim to come home," he said. "He met the victim, he went outside, the victim waited several minutes and then followed him outside, and that is where he was murdered."
Elvins said there were multiple shots fired and Ramp was struck multiple times. In addition, one of the two people in the house was struck by flying debris from a shot that entered the house.
That person did not require medical treatment.
Elvins said Moen did not threaten anyone else at the house, nor did he give any indication to them that he intended to harm Ramp.
Elvins said Moen was transported to Tomahawk for questioning at around 3:10 a.m.
"We sent two officers to pick him up, so it took a little while to coordinate that," he said.
The suspected murder weapon has also been recovered, he added.
After he was taken into custody, Moen led detectives to an area just outside of Tomahawk where he said he discarded the weapon, according to Elvins.
"I told him that I really didn't want a child to find that gun," Elvins said. "He dropped it off just outside of our jurisdiction."
Elvins said alcohol and drugs do not appear to have been a factor in the shooting, but he alleged that there may have been some premeditation on the part of the suspect.
"As far as did he plan it, I'm not going to say he thought about it for days, but it does appear that he may have thought about it for a couple hours prior to coming up here," Elvins said, adding that the Department of Criminal Investigation processed the scene Thursday evening but it would be examined again Friday.
"Everything changes in the daylight," Elvins said. "It can give you a fresh perspective when you can go at it and see without artificial light."
Elvins also said the suspect's wife was contacted following the shooting.
"They are currently separated and she is in the Wausau area," he said. "We didn't know what his intentions were, so a family friend down there put her in a motel room to get her away from the scene in case there was a threat or a perceived threat. We didn't know what his intentions were."
The chief said he and detective John Duplayee will be the lead investigators on the case.
"(Duplayee) did a lot of the search warrants last night. We did several search warrants here and in Wausau," he said.
According to Elvins, Moen admitted to the shooting when questioned by police but did not have an explanation for his actions.
"There was no way he could explain it," Elvins said.
Elvins thanked the Lincoln and Chippewa county sheriff's departments, Highway Patrol, Department of Justice and Lake Hallie Police Department for their assistance in the investigation and apprehension of the suspect.
"We couldn't have done all this, with the eight individuals that we have, without their assistance," he said.
Jamie Taylor may be reached via email at [email protected].
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