An Acton man whom detectives believe was shot and killed by another Acton man left behind a pregnant wife and two small children, a friend said Wednesday.  

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Christopher Demyen, 39, of Acton, was killed last Wednesday, after a verbal altercation on the 1500 block of Eagle Butte Road turned violent, detectives said.

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.

“I’ve known him for many years,” Layton said. “He had a review class on the following Sunday, and I had just talked to him the day or two before.”

Scott Shipley, 56, of Acton, will be back at Los Angeles Superior Court in Lancaster next month, according to the case’s prosecutor.

Shipley had an arraignment scheduled for May 17, but that was continued until June 17, said Tom Trainor, deputy district attorney for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

“(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,” Trainor said. “There’s no offer being discussed.”

His bail amount was doubled due to the allegation that Shipley used a gun in the commission of the crime, Trainor said.

He faces a maximum of a life sentence if convicted.

Shipley has yet to enter a plea due to the continuance.

Christopher Demyen, 39, of Acton, was killed Wednesday, after a verbal altercation on the 1500 block of Eagle Butte Road turned violent.

Demyen owned Acton Water, a local water-delivery company, according to Larry Layton, an Acton attorney who runs a law firm in Acton and described Demyen as a longtime friend.

“I was going to meet up with him on the day he was killed,” Layton said.

Sheriff’s Station deputies arrested Shipley, who allegedly drew a handgun at some point during the fight and shot the victim once in the chest.

He was taken into custody Wednesday without incident.

Detectives responded to a the report of a shooting at 2 p.m.

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

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.

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

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