Dad Charged in Hunting Accident that Killed Daughter, 12

A Michigan man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in an accident that claimed the life of his 12-year-old daughter during a youth hunting outing earlier this fall.

Chippewa County Sheriff Robert Savoie said Jose Enrique Lefebre-Toro, 43, of Drafter slipped a loaded, uncased rifle between the front seats of his vehicle on the morning of Sept. 21, UpLiveNorth.com reported. The gun was pointed toward the back seat and fired as the vehicle traveled over a rough road. His daughter, Shellsea Lefebre-Schiel, was killed instantly.

Another person in the back seat was not injured.

At the time, Savoie said the youngster’s death was a tragedy that could have been prevented.

“It’s a tragic, sad event anytime a young life is taken,” he said. “The issues here are there’s a loaded firearm in a vehicle, it’s pointed in the direction of another person and, obviously, the safety had to have been off. Just driving down the rough road made it discharge on its own.”

Chippewa County Prosecutor Brian Peppler said the defendant acted in a grossly negligent manner. Lefebre-Toro was arraigned Thursday and released on a personal recognizance bond, WBUP-TV in Marquette reports.

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