Court docs: Suspect admitted to deadly shooting at Walker apartment
WALKER, Mich. (WOOD) — A murder suspect admitted to shooting another man multiple times at a Walker apartment complex, court documents show.
Investigators say that Alexander Garcia told them he used a .357 revolver to shoot Timothy Erickson Jr. three times in the head, according to a probable cause affidavit filed with the court.
“The evidence located at the scene and the autopsy was consistent with Alexander’s confession,” the affidavit says.
PD: Man charged for murder at Walker apartment complex
The document does not make any reference to a motive, and Walker Police Department Sgt. Joel Bartels would not elaborate on what led up to the killing.
“All I can say is that it wasn’t a random killing,” he told News 8 on Friday. “Tim was very well acquainted with the person that did this.”
He would not say how the two knew one another, saying he wanted to protect the integrity of the case.
Court documents indicate the crime happened on or about March 14. Erickson, 39, was found dead March 26 at The Orchards at Four Mile apartment complex after family asked police to look in on him.
“Officers were dispatched … to check the welfare of Timothy because his parents hadn’t heard from him in days. So they (officers) went there to check the apartment and unfortunately, they found him deceased,” Bartels said.
Police investigating homicide in Walker after man found dead in apartment
The Kent County Medical Examiner performed an autopsy and determined the death was a homicide.
Michigan State Police records show that Garcia was arrested by Kentwood police on March 14 and charged by the prosecutor the next day with two misdemeanors: domestic violence and assault.
He pleaded guilty to felony carjacking out of Grand Rapids in 2008, when he was 16, the records show. He was also arrested in February 2023 by Grand Rapids police for misdemeanor assault, though it appears the prosecutor did not issue charges.
Garcia, 32, was arrested for the murder Wednesday evening and arraigned Thursday on open murder and weapons charges. Bond was denied. He is expected back in court on April 16 and April 23.
“We’re happy to bring some closure to the family,” Bartels said. “That was important for us, to be able to give that to Tim’s friends and family.”
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