fbpx

Hunter Who Accidentally Shot Man in Libby Faces Misdemeanor Charges

By Beacon Staff

The 48-year-old Libby man who accidentally shot a fellow hunter near the Libby Creek drainage last month made an initial appearance Tuesday in Lincoln County Justice Court, where he is charged with negligent endangerment, a misdemeanor offense.

The shooter, Mike Wagner, was also charged by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks with unlawful hunting from a public highway and failure to obtain a landowner’s permission before following a wounded mule deer buck onto private property, both misdemeanors.

The bullet struck the shooting victim, 60-year-old John Cleveland, of Colorado, in the thigh. He remains in critical but stable condition in a Colorado hospital, where he is undergoing numerous surgeries to his leg.

Cleveland was not wearing hunter orange at the time of the shooting and will not be charged with an offense.

The shooting incident occurred Nov. 16, and was reported to authorities shortly after 11 a.m.

The shooter, Wagner, reported that he had accidentally shot another hunter whom he did not know. He and his son, who was also hunting, administered aid by wrapping the victim’s leg with a tourniquet before taking him to the first house that had telephone service so they could call authorities. After calling, they continued to drive toward town until they were met by an ambulance.

The victim was sent to St. John’s Lutheran Hospital where he was stabilized and then sent to Kalispell Regional Medical Center.