EC man pleads guilty to shooting Altoona man to death

Jan. 14—EAU CLAIRE — An Eau Claire man has pleaded not guilty in connection with the September shooting death of an Altoona man at Bergen and Bellevue avenues in Eau Claire.

Michael B. Purnell 32, 2613 Skeels Ave. pleaded guilty to two felonies of recklessly endangering his safety and first-degree intentional murder.

Purnell’s next court date has not been set.

Co-defendant Xavier M. Thompson (34) 5613 Otter Creek Court has pleaded guilty and will return to court March 10.

Kemone T. Gold, 26-year-old co-defendant, of Cadott has not yet appeared in court. His arrest warrant has been issued.

Following arguments at several taverns, the shooting took place. According to police, the Altoona man was killed while riding in his car as a passenger.

Christopher Conner (39), has been identified by the victim.

Based on calls that Golden made to witnesses while being held at the Chippewa County Jail for another matter, authorities identified him as a suspect.

According to the criminal case:

Eau Claire police responded to a shooting at 12:12 AM on Sept. 17, in the 500 block Bergen Avenue.

Conner was found on the ground by officers. Conner was being helped by someone.

Officers discovered Conner had a gunshot to the back just below his shoulder blade. Conner was taken to Mayo Clinic Health System Eau Claire where he was declared dead. He had received a bullet to his heart.

Officers found a white Chevrolet Malibu, which appeared to have crashed into a tree just south of Conner on Bergen Avenue. Bullet holes were evident in the car’s rear. Also, the rear windshield was also damaged.

The man claimed that the white car belonged to him and that someone had shot at it. The man claimed that he ran from fear and jumped out his car. He said that Conner, his friend was following him and that Conner had been gunned down.

Officers surveyed the scene of the shooting. One shell casing was discovered on Bergen Avenue just north of Bellevue Avenue. Eight shell casings more were found east of Bergen Avenue on Bellevue Avenue.

Police discovered a bullet hole in the trunk of the white Chevrolet Malibu. They also found additional bullet holes inside two boxes. The bumper also seemed to have been hit by a bullet.

Officers concluded that the bullet that most likely shattered rear windows would have traveled downwards after impact.

The interior of the passenger compartment was free from bullet damage.

Purnell was identified as a suspect by police. Purnell was identified as a suspect by police. His vehicle was located on Skeels Avenue in Washington at 4:13 am on September 17.

Purnell, who entered the vehicle at 5 :21 a.m., led police in a pursuit through Eau Claire & Chippewa counties. The pursuit reached speeds exceeding 100 mph. Purnell was taken into police custody after he had a flat tire during the chase.

According to police, Conner and his white Chevrolet Malibu owner told police that they had been out together after getting into an argument at a Eau Claire tavern. The man claimed that three cars started following them after they left. He said that shots were fired at his car at one point.

Police interviewed several witnesses and identified Purnell & Thompson as the prime suspects.

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