Gerald Burgeson, 71, of Metamora, Michigan, died on September 12, 2016, in an accidental shooting at a hunting cabin in Butterfield Township. Burgeson, a Vietnam War veteran and avid hunter, co-owned the cabin with his 74-year-old cousin, Ronald Dunn of Livonia. The cousins were at their shared property when Dunn was firing at a target and Burgeson rode a three-wheeler into the line of fire; a single shot struck Burgeson and killed him.

The Missaukee County Sheriff’s Office investigated, processed the scene and interviewed Dunn, who was described as cooperative and distraught. An autopsy confirmed the death resulted from the shooting, and the county prosecutor reviewed the evidence and declined to file criminal charges, ruling the death accidental. The family lost a husband, father and grandfather; the community was left to mourn.

If anyone was at the Butterfield Township property that day or has information about what happened, please share it with the sheriff’s office.