Galesburg man shot and killed 2 neighbors because they were loud, court records say
GALESBURG, Mich. — A Galesburg man told deputies he shot and killed a couple living in the next door apartment because they prevented him from sleeping by being loud, according to newly obtained court records.
William Robert Wolfe, 31, was charged with two counts of open murder in the deaths of Virgil Walker, 49, and Kailey Walker, 30, on June 3, 2021 at the Galesburg Village Apartments on the 600 block of North 35th Street in Galesburg.
Kalamazoo County Deputies said Wolfe gunned down the couple, the moment they opened the door early Thursday morning.
During an interview with detectives, Wolf later admitted he shot the couple because they prevented him from sleeping by being loud, according to the probable cause affidavit.
"It's kind of shocking he said they were loud because they pretty much kept to themselves," said Jennifer Newman, a neighbor who said she had several friendly conversations with the Walker's.
According to the probable cause affidavit in Kalamazoo County District Court, Wolfe left his apartment armed with a 9mm handgun and knocked on his neighbor's door.
Deputies said Wolf shot Virgil Walker without warning or provocation, after he opened the door. Wolfe then walked into the apartment and shot Walker's wife Kailey Walker multiple times, according to the report.
Deputies said Wolf then went back to his apartment, retrieved the keys to his vehicle and said goodbye to his pet cat. Wolfe called 911 around 7 a.m. June 3 to report he had shot and possibly killed his neighbors, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Neighbor Jennifer Newman said her mother saw Wolfe leaving the apartment complex.
"She apparently parked next to him and he pulled out like nothing ever happened," Newman said.
Neighbors said Virgil Walker worked third shift and was likely coming home around the time he was killed. Neighbors said Wolfe and the Walker's had lived at the Galesburg Village Apartments for several weeks.
"I don’t know how anything could have gone so wrong in a couple months," Newman said.
Investigators said mental health issues might have played a role in the two killings.
Wolfe was scheduled to appear in Kalamazoo County District Court for a probable cause conference on June 17.
Reached for comment, Kailey Walker's sister told News Channel 3 that Kailey was a loving aunt, and her family hoped to advocate for greater mental health treatment and push for safer gun regulations.