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Charges issued in death of 13-year-old Wyoming boy

Posted at 10:53 AM, Aug 08, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-09 16:09:38-04

OCEANA COUNTY, Mich. — Prosecutors have issued charges in the shooting death of 13-year-old Billy Gort from Wyoming.

Michigan State Police say Gort was shot and killed while squirrel hunting on state land in Oceana County on February 18. He was taking part in a hunting trip program called Christianity Outdoors with a teenage friend and Roger Erick Hoeker, 62, of Jension. Hoeker was a Michigan hunter safety instructor and a mentor with the youth outreach program.

Roger Hoeker

Gort was shot in the head when police say Hoeker’s small caliber rifle discharged and struck the boy. He died of his injuries.

Hoeker was charged with involuntary manslaughter Tuesday.