Deer hunter who killed woman is charged with manslaughter

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Thomas D'Arcy McGee

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Deer hunter who killed woman is charged with manslaughter

Associated Press

Published:November 30, 2017

Updated: November 30, 2017 6:47 PM EST


MAYVILLE, N.Y. — A hunter who fatally shot a neighbour out walking her dogs after sunset but who claimed he mistook her for a deer was charged on Thursday with manslaughter and hunting after hours.

Thomas Jadlowski pleaded not guilty in Chautauqua County Court, where a judge set bail at $50,000. Jadlowski, 34, could face five to 15 years in prison if convicted.

State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said Jadlowski was “being held accountable for his dangerous and reckless conduct when he fired a shot in the dark, causing this terrible tragedy.”

Rosemary Billquist, a hospital worker and hospice volunteer, was killed by a .35-calibre round from a high-powered hunting pistol fired from about 200 yards away. Billquist, 43, had been walking her two yellow Labradors in a field behind her home in Sherman at about 5:20 p.m. on Thanksgiving eve.

Authorities said the shooting happened after dark, when it’s illegal to hunt deer.

“There is no allegation that this was intentional in any way,” District Attorney Patrick Swanson said at a news conference with the Department of Environmental Conservation and the county sheriff’s office, whose joint investigation resulted in a two-count grand jury indictment.

But the fatal shooting, Swanson said, was “completely avoidable.”

Jadlowski heard Billquist cry out after firing, ran to her and called 911, investigators said. Rescue crews arrived within minutes of the call but found Billquist unresponsive. She was taken to an Erie, Pennsylvania, hospital, where she died.

Jadlowski has not publicly commented on what happened, and a phone listing for him has been out of service.

Hundreds of people attended Billquist’s funeral on Wednesday.

“This tragic event,” Sheriff Joseph Gerace said, “should never have happened.”
 
Four basic gun safety rules. One of them is to be sure of your target and what is beyond it. It's not that hard to do. The "no hunting after dark" rule is also there for this reason. Clearly people don't learn that you can't just go shooting at anything that moves. He's earned himself this charge, that's for sure.
 
hawk-i said:
Hell of a way to be taught a lesson though.
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There is no lesson here.... first there is common sense.... then there is education (whether a hunter course or reading regulations)... He broke the law, did something stupid, and deserves any and all consiquences...

#### HIM
 
Hmm a neighbor that slighted him somehow? Seem like a bizarre shot for a hunter to me. He's lucky to have gotten off with manslaughter. Has potential of premeditated hit. Just saying, knowing nothing about the case excdpt whats posted on this board.
 
PEKS said:
Horrible Tragedy, a 200 yard pistol shot, in the dark, absolutely negligent
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It's hard to imagine a 200yd pistol shot fired into the air,in the dark accurate enough to deliberately hit someone. This is more like being hit by lightning. It's criminal negligence,for sure. The comparable charge in the US is manslaughter. There aren't too many mamby-pamby liberal judges in New York State,so,there's a real possibility this guy could be on a trip to Attica for a while.
 
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