An 11-year-old boy tragically died after being shot apparently by his stepfather while deer hunting in a private property located at Clay Township in St. Clair County.
What We Know:
- According to Clay Township Police in Michigan, the 11-year-old was with his family in the woods, hunting for deer, when onlookers heard gunshots and saw the boy on the ground.
- The Clay Township Police Department stated the shooting occurred at the 6300 block of Benoit Road on Sunday, at around 8 p.m.
- Clay Township Police Chief Michael Koach mentioned they went into the woods. As they were hunting, they were able to shoot a deer and then go back with other people to trail the deer. As they were doing so, a couple of shots were fired, and the 11-year-old boy was shot. The boy was struck by a round that was discharged by his 40-year-old stepfather.
- As his family members were attending the boy, officers arrived at the scene and started to administer CPR. As officers were treating the boy, they heard another gunshot go off. That’s when officers stated the child’s mother mistakenly shot herself in the hand as she tried to unload the gun.
- Sadly, the boy was first taken to McLaren Hospital Macomb. He was then transferred to Children’s Hospital in Detroit, where he was later pronounced dead.
- Although it seems to be a tragic mistake, his stepfather is currently in custody due to his criminal record in the past, officers say. Koach stated that they based on his past criminal history that ties everything together, there could possibly be other violations. The case is at this time being looked into by the St. Clair County Prosecutor’s Office.
DNR officials also analyzed whether the family obeyed all safety laws and rules, including hunters having to wear blaze orange.
