Michigan Poker Play Arrested In Bizarre Murder Case

A Michigan poker player has been arrested after allegedly shooting a stranger dead for no discernible reason. Before the shooting, the man, 35-year-old Craig Michael Bergeron, who goes by the online poker handle “hu4rollz,” posted videos to Facebook that may call into question what his mental state is/was. 

This comes after a father and son duo were sentenced for illegal gambling violations in the state. 

More About the Incident 

As mentioned, Bergeron was arrested. The arrest occurred on Christmas Eve. He’s since been charged with first-degree murder, two counts of felony firearm, and a felon in possession of a firearm in relation to death. 

The person who was shot and killed was Tommy Ireland, a 37-year-old man. 

The shooting happened on the east side of Detroit on Dec. 23. 

Bergeron, who has some recognition in the online poker world, fled the scene in a white SUV. He then assaulted another person nearby. 

Per the Ireland family, they don’t believe Tommy or Bergeron knew one another and cannot explain why Bergeron killed him. 

They held a candlelit vigil for him on Thursday. 

Bergeron’s Social Media Posts

Just hours before the alleged murder, Bergeron posted videos on Facebook of himself driving around Detroit by himself. He appears to be paranoid about the police, panning the camera toward a police vehicle in a nearby lane. 

“Look! They escort me out of Warren,” he screams, referring to the Detroit suburb. “They escort me out of Warren!”

He also posted several videos the day before the killing where he was incoherent. In one, though, he appeared to be scared. 

“They pulled a gun on me! They pulled a gun on me!” he says. “You gotta flash your lights. We gotta go to my house. Hey. Please. I’m sorry. Please.”

His Poker Past

Bergeron hasn’t participated in the poker scene for about five years, but during that time, he earned about $1.3 million, according to the Hendon Mob Database. 

He finished fourth at the EPT Deauville in 2010, winning more than $312,000. 

In 2011, he won a World Series of Poker Circuit ring. 

On the 2+2 forums, posters reacted after learning of his arrest. 

“When he was young and had lots of money he was always so giving/caring towards friends and whoever he knew,” wrote one poster. “So to see him hit this spiral and have it end this way is really, really sad.”