On September 8, 2014, 65-year-old Stephen Backstrom of Mansfield was handling a .30-30 Marlin hunting rifle at the Mansfield Fish and Game club when the gun discharged. Emergency services were called at about 2:55 p.m.; responders found Mr. Backstrom deceased at the scene. The Mansfield Police Detective Division and the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit investigated the shooting.

Investigators and officials later characterized the fatality as an accident. A spokesman for the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said there was no suspicion of foul play, and the club’s vice president described the incident as definitely an accident. Stephen Backstrom was born in Milaca, Minnesota on July 7, 1949, had lived in Mansfield for the last ten years of his life, worked as an attendant at Medfield State Hospital, and collected model trains. A memorial service was held later that month.

If anyone was at the club that afternoon or has information about how the rifle came to discharge, please share what you know.