Trial set for man charged with murder of Tomahawk resident

Eric Lee Moen allegedly shot Charles ‘Chuck’ K. Ramp in Nov. 2017

By Jalen Maki

Tomahawk Leader Co-Editor

MERRILL - A jury trial for Eric Lee Moen, Wausau, will take place in Lincoln County court from June 15 to June 19, 2020. A plea hearing has been scheduled by Judge Robert R. Russell for May 26, 2020.

Eric Lee Moen

Moen allegedly arrived at the home of Charles “Chuck” K. Ramp, located at 205 W. Mohawk Avenue in Tomahawk, late in the afternoon of Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. The two had been friends for four years and Moen had been to the home many times before, according to a story published in the Nov. 21, 2017 edition of the Tomahawk Leader.

After Ramp arrived at the home about 15 minutes later, Moen asked Ramp to listen to a noise his vehicle was making, according to investigators. Moen then pretended to look at something under the hood of the vehicle. When Ramp returned to the vehicle with a light, Moen allegedly retrieved a .20 gauge shotgun from the back of the vehicle.

Moen is accused of then shooting Ramp five times with the shotgun before fleeing the scene.

Ramp’s wife called 911 at approximately 5:47 p.m. Ramp, 52, died from his injuries at nearby Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital in Tomahawk a short time later.

A statewide alert was issued after Moen fled the area. He was taken into custody later that evening, reportedly in the parking lot exiting a Lake Hallie Walmart in Chippewa County. He did not resist arrest.

After being returned to Lincoln County, Moen led police to where he had hidden the weapon, just outside the Tomahawk Police Department’s jurisdiction in Lincoln County.

Charles "Chuck" K. Ramp

He was charged with first-degree intentional homicide in Lincoln County court on Monday, Nov. 20, 2017.

According to Tomahawk Police Chief Al Elvins, Moen could not explain why he had shot Ramp.

“There was no way he could explain it. He said ‘I don’t know why I did it,’” Elvins said.

Ramp’s family indicated there was nothing out of the ordinary regarding Moen’s behavior before the shooting occurred.

Moen, 34, pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect on Feb. 21, 2018.