LAPEER COUNTY, Mich. – A Lapeer County man is facing charges after shooting his friend with a shotgun he thought was unloaded, authorities said.
According to the Lapeer County Sheriff’s Department, three men were at a property on Kelch Road in Rich Township to look at deer hunting sites and hunt small game Friday.
When the men were done, they returned to a truck, where they were unloading their weapons.
Authorities said one of the men, Andrew Brill, 30, of Silverwood, had his gun pointed at another man, a 29-year-old from Lake Orion. The weapon discharged, hitting the Lake Orion man in the torso.
Deputies said the men didn’t know the weapon was loaded.
Brill left the scene and went home before authorities arrived, officials said, but he called 911 and told authorities he would surrender at his home. He was taken into custody without incident.
Brill is charged with felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of felony firearm, careless discharge of a firearm causing injury and possession of a firearm while intoxicated.
His bond was set at $10,000. He is due back in court Nov. 11 for a probable cause conference.
The victim was listed as stable after the shooting.