An old grudge that spanned more than a half-century may have led a 73-year-old man to fatally shoot his long-ago classmate at his South Dakota home, according to a court affidavit filed Thursday.
Carl V. Ericsson, of Watertown, South Dakota, was denied bond Thursday during his first court appearance on a first-degree murder charge. The former high school sports star is accused of shooting retired Madison High School teacher and track coach Norman Johnson, 72, after Johnson answered the door at his house on Tuesday evening in Madison.
Ericsson’s brother, Madison resident Dick Ericsson, said in the affidavit that his brother suffers from depression and alcoholism and the two last talked about six months ago. He said his brother was a sports manager at Madison High years ago and “there was an incident where Norm Johnson did something to Carl.”
“Since that time, over 50 years ago, Carl has held a grudge against Norm Johnson,” the affidavit said. “Dick said that he brought up the name of Norm Johnson some time back and Carl was still upset about the situation and called Norm Johnson a son of a bitch.”
Shortly after the shooting, Johnson’s wife, Barbara, found him lying on the floor and saw a man walking to a dark sedan parked outside.
Johnson died of two gunshot wounds to the face, an autopsy determined.
