Former Poker Pro Charged with Murder, Mental Illness Suspected

Bergeron was successfully arrested and charged with first-degree murder, as well as was two counts of felony firearm and felon in possession of a firearmImage Source: Shutterstock.com

Craig Michael Bergeron, a prominent poker player who has been absent from the scene for five years, has shot a person dead and assaulted another victim. The man has since been arrested and is believed to have been suffering from a mental illness.

A Man Died After Allegedly Being Shot by Bergeron

On December 23, Bergeron, 35, allegedly shot Tommy Ireland, 37, dead. Shortly after that, he assaulted another person, before fleeing in a white SUV.

On the next day, Bergeron was successfully arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He was also slammed with two counts of felony firearm and felon in possession of a firearm, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.

After examining the evidence, the authorities concluded that Bergeron might have been suffering from a mental illness.

Mental Illness Strongly Suspected

The mental illness theory was supported by disturbing videos shared by Bergeron hours before the murder. Posted on Facebook, they show the man driving around Detroit while screaming paranoidly, believing that a nearby police car is pursuing him.

In a separate video the man seems frightened about a potential gun threat and says that he must go to his house. Bergeron then proceeds to frightfully apologize.

Additionally, Bergeron does not seem to have known Ireland. The latter man’s family described the victim as a “gentle giant” who had no enemies and couldn’t understand why anyone would hurt him.

This seems to provide further credibility to the mental illness theory as there are seemingly no links whatsoever between the two men.

Bergeron Was a Kind and Charitable Player

Bergeron, for context, was a prominent online poker player, who played under the nickname hu4rollz. Known for placing high at prestigious events, he seemed to be a calm guy who wasn’t predisposed to crime, according to people who knew him.

During his time as a poke professional, he accumulated over $1.3 million in tournament winnings. Some of his most noteworthy feats include a first place at a WSOP Circuit ring in 2011 and a fourth place at the EPT Deauville in 2010.

Other poker professionals commented on the matter online, saying that they remember him as a caring and kind individual who was all about helping others. One commenter reminisced about his giving nature, while another highlighted the time he flew to Vancouver to help a friend overcome drug addiction.

In any case, poker professionals agreed that Bergeron’s spiraling into mental illness and paranoia was a very sad and unfortunate development.

Another Shooting Victim Passed Away

Speaking of gun crime, a man who had been wounded during the robbery of an illegal gambling establishment in Queens recently passed away. The person was shit when three armed criminals entered the den with the intention to rob it.

In the meantime, authorities believe they have identified the man who shot himself and set his car ablaze in front of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas.