Holyoke husband jailed on shooting charges

By MICHAEL CONNORS

Staff Writer

Published: 12-12-2019 9:02 AM

HOLYOKE — A city man was deemed dangerous by a judge Wednesday after authorities say he fired a gun on two separate occasions in one day at a man he believed was having an affair with his wife, allegedly telling police after his arrest that he wanted to “kill them both.”

Erik M. Lawrence, 49, was arraigned Monday in Holyoke District Court on four charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, breaking and entering a building at night for a felony, discharge of a firearm within 500 feet of a building, malicious damage to a motor vehicle, threat to commit a crime, discharge of a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, wanton destruction of property over $1,200 and disturbing the peace.

He was ordered jailed at a dangerousness hearing Wednesday.

According to court documents by various Holyoke police officers and detectives, police were called at 4:29 p.m. Saturday to the Wyckoff Country Club at 233 Easthampton Road for a report of a shooting. Officer William I. LeBrun’s report said police caught up with Lawrence’s car as he turned to travel north on Northampton Street. Eventually, the car stopped at C-Mart Market, where Lawrence was handcuffed and told police of a handgun in the car.

On his way to the station, LeBrun wrote that Lawrence allegedly told him he had “messed up” and “could have done worse to him” without being questioned, finally asking the officer if the call came in as “a crazy guy with a gun.” In the car, Lawrence reportedly told LeBrun he had seen his wife come out of another man’s basement and asked LeBrun what he would do if he caught his wife cheating.

According to Officer John Wagner’s narrative, Lawrence reportedly said he was surprised that officers weren’t called to Jefferson Street the previous night, saying he had shot at a home to “kill them both.”

At around 5:45 p.m. Saturday, according to Detective Jessica L. Roy, she and another detective went to the Jefferson Street home to interview the person Lawrence allegedly shot at on Saturday, David Johnson.

Johnson told Roy he had been at the country club because his best friend had recently passed away and was staying in the city to attend the services. The day before, Johnson told Roy, he attended the wake, and went to Pic’s Pub on Hampden Street afterward to meet up with friends.

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According to Roy’s report, Johnson said he was receiving multiple texts from friends checking in on him, including Tamara Lawrence, Erik Lawrence’s wife. Johnson said that around 1 a.m. on Saturday, Tamara Lawrence picked him up and they went to the Jefferson Street home where he said they started kissing each other.

It was around this time, Johnson told Roy, that Erik Lawrence came into the house, which belongs to Johnson’s mother, who told police she heard a gunshot coming from inside the house.

Johnson said he and Tamara Lawrence saw Erik Lawrence waving a gun around, saying, “David, David where are you?”

Tamara Lawrence ran out the side door of the kitchen, and Johnson and his mother told Erik Lawrence to leave, according to Roy’s report. Lawrence then allegedly shot off another round in the kitchen before he was  pushed out of the home onto the porch.

Later that day, according to Roy’s report, Lawrence was seen at Wyckoff Country Club yelling out of his car window at Johnson. Johnson and another person went to confront him, when Johnson allegedly saw Lawrence grab a silver firearm, reportedly telling Johnson, “You’re lucky I don’t shoot you right now,” according to Roy’s report.

Johnson was in another person’s car when the driver allegedly saw Lawrence walking toward the vehicle with a gun in his hand, court documents said. Johnson told Roy he heard a gunshot, but he and the driver did not stop as they drove away.

A canvass of the area found no ballistic evidence. At the Jefferson Street home, officers found two bullet holes, court documents say.

Additionally, Johnson’s car was allegedly shot twice. Officers photographed it and recovered a spent shell casing. Authorities also seized a firearm lockbox from Lawrence’s house.

Lawrence is scheduled to be in court on Jan. 8 for a pretrial hearing.

Michael Connors can be reached at mconnors@gazettenet.com.]]>