St. Clair County Teen Killed in Hunting Accident
A 24-year-old Port Huron man mistook the 17-year-old victim as an animal while hunting Thursday night, the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office said Friday.
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A Brockway Township teenager was fatally shot Thursday evening in what police believe was a hunting accident in St. Clair County.
Devon Derouin, 17, was scouting for deer around 7:30 p.m. on land in the 12000 block of Wilkes Road in Brockway Township. He had been given permission to hunt on the property in the past, according to the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office.
Three hunters were also given permission to hunt coyote on the parcel at the same time. One of the men, a 24 year old from Port Huron Township, saw movement in brush at a tree base. Believing it was an animal, he fired one shot from a distance of about 150 yards that struck and killed Derouin, the Sheriff's Office stated Friday.
Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office were called to the scene and are continuing to investigate. The men who were hunting on the land have been cooperating with police. Yale and Capac police departments, Brockway Fire and Rescue and Tri-Hospital EMS assisted at the scene, the Sheriff's Office said.
K
8:31 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
Being the land owner right next door, it was well known and OBVIOUS that Devon roamed the area. He approached me about coming on my property, and knew he was welcome. Me and Devon discussed staying out of the woods during deer season, and always worry more about the other guys shooting. Devin loved the outdoors. It was not uncommon for him to come out of the woods to visit me in the fields. How did two hunting parties end up on the same land? Once you give a kid permission to hunt, have the sense to tell them otherwise. Alway know who's on your land. Land owners need to take responsiblility. If Devon was told to stay off, he would have!!! YOU DON'T SHOOT AT WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE. I'll miss him.
Mach Zee
7:08 am on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Was Devon hunting? News reports say he was 450 away when he was shot. Do we know what kind of weapon was used?
T
6:07 pm on Sunday, September 23, 2012
Thank you "K" I am Devon's uncle and I believe I met you yesterday at the field were the incident happened with his parents. Devon always spoke very fondly of you and of how much he enjoyed helping you...
Joe Francis
7:29 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Thanks K and Kevin's uncle. I am one of the extended family...a cousin to Devon's mom. Devon has lots of relatives and many of us who did not know Devon very well but we are learning about what a great young man and great neighbor he was. Joe Francis
Joe Francis
5:23 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Thanks K and Devon's uncle....this is one of the many extended family members, a cousin on Devon's mom's side. Many of us did not know Devon very well, but we are learning more and more that he was a great young man and a great neighbor.
Joe Francis
Michael Tack
10:41 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012
I knew Devon since I was in kindergarten, I used to sit next to him on the bus before he was home schooled, played airsoft with him and some buddies every Saturday. Why does this happen to the best of them? We all love him and miss him.
Teri Ann Roberts Kozlowski
12:14 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
The man who killed him should be charged with negligent homicide and be lucky if he gets off with manslaughter. Clearly the boy did not look like a coyote or a bear or any other animal. This 'hunter' shot at anything that moved and was WRONG and irresponsible. :(