Acton Man Accused Of Murder Due Back In Court

Posted by: Perry Smith in Santa Clarita News August 5, 2013 - 4:35 pm 0 119 Views

An Acton man accused of murder in the shooting death of another Acton man will be back in court later this month, a court official said Monday.

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Scott Shipley, 56, of Acton, had his case continued for a preliminary hearing Aug. 20. He pleaded not guilty July 24 at Los Angeles Superior Court in Lancaster.

Shipley is accused in the shooting death of Christopher Demyen, a 39-year-old Acton resident who was killed May 15.

“(Shipley’s) charged with a single count of murder and there’s also an allegation that he personally discharged a firearm causing great bodily injury or death,” said Tom Trainor, deputy district attorney for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. “There’s no offer being discussed.”

Detectives with the Homicide Bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department allege that Shipley got into an argument with Demyen and then pulled out a gun and shot him in the chest.

The fight took place on the 1500 block of Eagle Butte Road.

Although sheriff’s deputies and L. A. County Fire Paramedics responded, Demyen was pronounced dead at the scene.

Shipley was taken into custody without incident a day after the shooting.

In addition to owning Acton Water Co., a local water-delivery company, Demyen also studied law at the Larry H Layton School of Law, said school founder Larry Layton.

Demyen had two small children and a wife who was expecting a third child, Layton said.

Shipley’s bail amount was doubled to $2 million due to the allegation that Shipley used a gun in the commission of the crime, Trainor said.

Shipley is being held at Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles.

He faces a maximum of a life sentence if convicted.

The case is being investigated by Lt. Holly Francisco of the Homicide Bureau.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

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