NC Man Killed By Hunter Who Mistook Him For Coyote

TAYLORSVILLE, NC — A Baptist pastor and father of two small children hunting coyotes was killed this week when another hunter in the area heard his electronic coyote call and shot him twice in the chest, mistaking him for a coyote.

The tragic event unfolded in Taylorsville shortly before 6 p.m. Feb. 19 when law enforcement received a 911 call reporting the shooting. First responders found Rev. Michael Seth Marsh, 26, with several gunshot wounds in his chest, according to an Alexander County Sheriff’s Office report.

Taylorsville is about 60 miles north of Charlotte.

Marsh, who had a .12 gauge shotgun and a 22/250 rifle with him, had been hunting coyotes in the area and had been using an electronic coyote call, according to the report.

SEE ALSO: Huntersville Family's Car Attacked By Coyote Believed To Be Rabid

Ronald Matthew Dunn, 31, apparently hearing the call, told officers he heard coyotes screaming and though they had trapped something. Dunn said “he saw something that looked to him like a coyote that had trapped something in a tree,” and fired twice with a .223 hunting rifle in the direction of brown and grey movement at a tree, the report said.

Dunn rendered first aid and called 911 for help. Marsh was transported to Wake Forest Baptist Health Wilkes Medical Center for treatment but was pronounced dead at around 8 p.m. Monday evening.

Marsh had been pastor of the Russell Gap Baptist Church for about one year, according to the Taylorsville Times.

Wednesday, Dunn was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter. His bond was set at $75,000 and is expected to make his first appearance at the Alexander County District Court Feb. 26.

Photo via Alexander County Sheriff's Office

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