BARRY COUNTY, Mich. -- A suspect was charged Wednesday in the shooting death of a 34-year-old Hastings man.
Sigmund Floyd Rumpf, 29, is being charged with open murder and felony firearms. He's accused of shooting Steven Michael Kauffman Tuesday night near Gun Lake.
Kauffman was killed in the area of Marsh Road and Wildwood Road at approximately 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. He was found laying in the middle of the road.
Cherie Janis, who was at her brother's home near the scene of the shooting Tuesday night, said she heard the gun shot but did not think much of it at first.
"You don’t think much of (gunshots) in this area," she said.
“To see somebody dead right in front you, that don’t happen here."
Janis said she watched as a bystander called 9-1-1. She said a vehicle was left on the side of the road, a silver SUV Kauffman was believed to have been driving.
“I just kept watching him to see if he was going to move. He never moved," Janis said.
It is unclear what lead up to the shooting or whether the two men knew each other. Police said Wednesday that Rumpf was arrested Tuesday night at his home, which is located just a few miles from the scene of the shooting.
In court Wednesday, it was revealed Rumpf was intoxicated when he was arrested Tuesday night.
Rumpf is due back in court July 29. His bond has been set at $750,000.
