MI: Hunter who had been drinking shoots self, might face criminal charges

November 24, 2010

Hunter shoots self, might face criminal charges

TUSCOLA COUNTY - A 33-year-old Waterford man likely will face criminal charges after he accidentally shot himself with a rifle.

According to Tuscola County Undersheriff Glen Skrent, Richard Johnson is a convicted felon who allegedly was intoxicated when the shooting incident took place Nov. 13 at a deer camp along Cass City Road in Elkland Township.

Deputies from The Tuscola County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to Hills and Dales General Hospital in Cass City to investigate the reported shooting.

At the hospital, deputies found Johnson had been shot in the leg with a rifle. Johnson told investigators he had the rifle out because he was told there were coyotes in the area. He told police he was unloading the firearm around 1 a.m. Nov. 13 at a deer camp when the gun accidentally discharged, shooting him in the leg at close range.

"Because of the severity of the injury, Mr. Johnson was transferred to a Saginaw hospital," Skrent said.

Subsequent investigation by police found Johnson to be a convicted felon and that he had been drinking at the time of the shooting.

"This information has been presented to the prosecutor's office for possible charges," Skrent said.

Return to Hunting Accident Index

Fair Use Notice: This document may contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owners. We believe that this not-for-profit, educational use on the Web constitutes a fair use of the copyrighted material (as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law). If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

C.A.S.H.
P.O. Box 13815, Las Cruces, NM 88013
Phone: 575-640-7372
E-mail:

C.A.S.H. is a committee of Wildlife Watch, Inc.
a 501(c)3 Not-for-Profit Corporation.
Contributions are tax-deductible.