Man faces charges in death of high schooler

ELMHURST (AP) – Prosecutors have charged a 38-year-old Elmhurst man with first-degree murder in the death of a high school student, who they say was shot after the teen refused to play a card game that involved a form of Russian roulette.

Anson Paape, a sporadically employed tree-trimmer, was arrested Sunday after a two-day manhunt for the killing of 18-year-old Michael Murray. Prosecutors also charged Paape late Monday with obstruction of justice.

Prosecutors say Murray was among a group of young people who gathered at Paape’s Elmhurst home Friday evening. They say Paape loaded a revolver with a single bullet, spun the cylinder and fired at Murray’s forehead after the teen refused to play a card game that required the winner to pull the trigger of a gun loaded with one bullet at another player.

DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph Birkett said at a news conference Tuesday that the shooting was not an accident but premeditated murder.

“(Paape) planned to engage in behavior that was likely to cause death or great bodily harm to another human being,” Birkett said. “That, ladies and gentlemen, is murder, pure and simple.”

Prosecutors also charged 41-year-old William Larsen with obstruction of justice and aiding a fugitive, both felony charges, for allegedly letting Paape stay at his home while police searched for him.

DuPage County Judge George Sotos on Tuesday ordered Paape held without bond and continued his bond hearing until July 22, said Laura Pollastrini, a spokeswoman for Birkett. Larsen’s bond was set at $100,000.

Pollastrini said attorney Lee Bastianoni is representing Paape. Bastianoni did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press Tuesday evening.