Friday

A hunter in North Carolina who was using an electronic animal caller was fatally shot by a man with an AR-15 who said he mistook the sounds for coyotes roaming near his home, police and relatives said.

Michael Seth Marsh, 26, was killed late Monday in a wooded area in Taylorsville, about 60 miles northwest of Charlotte, as he was hunting coyotes with a 12-gauge shotgun, a rifle and an electronic coyote call, the Taylorsville Times reports.

Marsh, who served as pastor of Russell Gap Baptist Church, was shot several times in the chest with an AR-15 by a man who told police he heard coyotes screaming nearby and believed the animals had trapped something in a tree.

The man — later identified by authorities as Ronald Matthew Dunn, 31, of Taylorsville — said he then fired two shots at the brown and gray movement in the trees. Dunn later called police after he realized he had shot the hunter and not a wild animal.

Marsh was rushed to a nearby hospital, but he could not be saved. Marsh is survived by his wife, Katy, and two children, Braelynn and Isaac.

Alexander County Sheriff Chris Bowman said the shooter lived nearby and was unaware Marsh was in the area when he fired into the woods. Later Wednesday, Dunn was charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection to the shooting. He was taken into custody in lieu of $75,000 bond and is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Monday, sheriff officials announced.


Marsh, meanwhile, was remembered as a “great man, husband, father, son and friend” in a memorial fund established to help offset funeral expenses and other financial burdens.

“100% of these funds will be given to [Marsh’s wife], and she will decide what she wants done with the funds,” the website reads. “Our hearts break for this family and we hope everyone can find it in their heart to donate something to help out the family.”
 Source

Responses to "Coyote Hunter using animal caller is mistaken for coyote and killed"

  1. Brenda29 says:

    AR-15? So now you have HUMAN Blood on your hands. How are you going to explain THAT to the Big Man Upstairs??? JERK

  2. Unknown says:

    @ Brenda Pelletier... Pretty simply. He didn't confirm his target, and shot based on a whim. He should know better. We are taught this when obtaining hunting licenses. So yes, he's got some explaining to do. But it ain't about an AR15, only about his actions.

  3. Unknown says:

    Coyote hunters also know the risks that comes with using coyote calls and especially if using fake coyote decoys. Its always essential to let the nearby locals know, and if anyone stops to look it's my obligation to make them aware of my presence by either waving my blaze orange vest in the air or reflecting the sun at them, yelling and shouting and verbal communication is always #1

  4. As Elayne Boosler said in a routine years ago, "If you need an AK47 to take down a deer, maybe hunting isn't your sport." Same thing here. This is precisely why civilians do not need to have military-style weapons lying around.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Well, karma is a b*tch^^ the hunter got what he deserved, when he can't even make sure the locals are informed that he is in the area.

  6. Unknown says:

    People are the most brutal bastards !!! Live And Let Live !!!!

  7. Unknown says:

    What comes around, goes around. You hunt innocent animals for pleasure, I enjoy the fact that it backfired on your a$$.
    You got what you deserved, bastard.

  8. Unknown says:

    Sorry, I meant 'what goes around comes around'..

  9. androze says:

    Karma

  10. Unknown says:

    Hope he wa lunch which coyotes so badly need

  11. Anonymous says:

    Karma packs a mighty big punch sometimes.

  12. Unknown says:

    I notice the writers of those comments denigrating the victim are all "anonymous". Not proud enough of your hateful comments to use your name???

  13. Unknown says:

    go vegan, everybody stop killing everything

  14. mikeeeee says:

    well where would you like me to start....KARMA for all involved

  15. Anonymous says:

    Oh well. One less murdering scum...

  16. Bad am i says:

    One down...
    Die mofo.

  17. Diana says:

    I LOVE karma!!!! I had a great laugh ...Just fucking leave the animals alone!

  18. Lola Kay says:

    Love it. Warms my heart.

  19. hey, vegan here. I'm sorry this man lost his life. I'm sorry he didn't have the chance to come into the light that is veganism. I am sorry to his wife, and children.
    He's a human being. Yes he was a hunter but quite honestly we all have blood on our hands. We have all contributed to the meat industry and animals dying because of us before we were vegan, and I know many vegans who used to be hunters. Let's let this man rest in peace and respect his family, and hopefully other hunters will make the connection and stop hunting due to this tragity. Love and peace to all

  20. Journeyer says:

    Obviously he regrets his actions and didn't mean to kill someone who was killing coyotes. Stop hunting and this won't happen. Those of you casting the first stone and using God as a tyrant. Look in the mirror. I am positive you have done something that needs forgiveness. I stand with Ronald Matthew Dunn and believing it was not his intention to kill a person. My heart goes out to the family and this accident that took a life.

  21. Karma. One less killer in the world.

  22. Unknown says:

    good.

  23. Unknown says:

    Ain't karma a beatch....leave the animals alone.

  24. Unknown says:

    I don't understand why one would have a need to use a military platform weapon for hunting where rapid fire take the place of brains. When I used to hunt I used archery equipment. Archers don't slaughter each other in the woods. If these jokers had to use a bow most of them would starve.

  25. Anonymous says:

    Good kill.

  26. The pic of the victim shows him wearing a bright orange hat, which I assume he was wearing the time as it's a very sensible precaution. Even if the light was fading, if the shooter says he 'saw something' then surely the most visible thing would be a bright orange hat? I think he has a lot of explaining to do in court. Notwithstanding that, his attitude and lack of thought in shooting at something he could not identify surely means he's going down for some kind of criminal negligence. I'm no fan of guns in 'generalised ownership' (having used them professionally for a short while) but in this case it is not about the gun itself but an abysmal approach to using it. I wonder how many other gun owners a lost in the idea of being able to 'shoot anything that moves'? Equally, the idea that shooting coyotes is 'ok' is also reprehensible and misguided. Nature balances itself without constant interference from humans who think they know everything there is to know about life on earth.

  27. Unknown says:

    dostal co zaslouzil a jeste kazal slovo Bozi a zabijel,hnus

  28. Pagan Pride says:

    So sad that a so-called man of God had to hunt down his own God's innocent creatures and not even man enough to do it vis-a-vis but hides in the damn bushes like some murderer!

  29. Country Girl says:

    Wow, so many of you apparently failed in reading comprehension! The man who was doing the hunting was using a 12 gauge shot gun which is typically used in hunting of coyotes. The man who shot and killed the Hunter used an AR-15. NOT an AK47. And so many of you are saying to leave the animals alone, dont kill innocent animals, etc must never have had a coyote come on to your property and kill your pets, livestock, etc. Many coyotes hunters hunt them to reduce the population around homes and Farms. Those that say nature balances itself out is halfway right, but the other half is clueless and misguided. Some breeds and species are slightly over populated and when they get over populated there isnt enough food to go around so they start hunting for food elsewhere, usually in populated areas with pets and livestock being on the menu.

  30. Unknown says:

    IF ALL YOU MURDERERS REFRAINED FROM YOUR WICKED KILLING OF WILDLIFE, THESE ACCIDENTS WOULD NOT OCCUR. YOU ONLY HAVE YOURSELVES TO BLAME. FIND A HOBBY THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE MURDER.

  31. Anonymous says:

    @Aunt Susie, the weapon of choice to hunt is the person right.. regardless if its an Ak-47, AR-15, Mini-14 Ranch, German Mauser.... depending on what type a rifle person has, a bolt action rifle WHICH SO HAPPENS TO BE A MILITARY GRADE RIFLE as all rifles were mainly built to serve as a military use including the Winchester repeaters.. learn something about firearms first before you spout ignorance... many people are killed during hunting season with BOLT ACTION RIFLES....

  32. The Hunter cannot cause injury to any more animals that is a blessing in disguise.

  33. I’m loving this he deserved what he got.����
    Karma will get those who kill innocent animals and destroy our planet.

  34. This is what happens when 2 careless knuckleheads collide. One in the grave and one in jail. Tragic, but then so are most things in life. Let this serve as a lesson to always be mindful of your actions lest you suffer unintended consequences.

  35. Anonymous says:

    Great bunch of thoughtful, loving, caring individuals on the site. Oh and the vegans, cant forget the vegans because they sure as fuck wowon let anyone not know that they are. I can't wait to get putin the North Carolina woods and kill as many coyites as I possibly can with my AR-15, shotgun, and electronic call. Smoke a pack a day bitches!

  36. Unknown says:

    I'd rather donate to the animals.

  37. Unknown says:

    @CountryGirl, coyotes aren't overpopulated; humans are overpopulated! We clear their habitat and then complain when they show up in our backyards. People always seem to forget, the animals were here first. This was their home first. Stop killing innocent animals and tragedies like this would never happen.

  38. Anonymous says:

    CountryGirl take note, there's only one species on this planet overpopulated & it aint coyotes.

  39. Ain't that the truth

  40. Anonymous says:

    Funny how people try to justify killing a coyote by saying coyotes kill pets and livestock. You seem to forget that humans encroached their territory, including their hunting ground.
    Good ol' boys with semi-autos are morons, anyway.

    To the person complaining that people are commenting without using their names,nobody wants to get a bunch of dumb shit from people they don't know in their emails.
    The best part? Posts as "Unknown." Hahahahaha!

  41. nikto says:

    More guns would have changed everything.

  42. Unknown says:

    Using a animal call isn't hunting. Hunting should test your skills. I feel using a call or a helicopter is murder.

  43. Anonymous says:

    Yes, a few more guns in those woods, could a made it a bit more interesting.lol.

  44. Unknown says:

    A "man of God" out killing God's creatures. Hmm- guess he shouldn't done that. Sorry for his family but I don't mourn people who get killed while trying to kill innocent creatures.

  45. Anonymous says:

    Lmfao bye to your small dick

  46. Acts 10:13.

  47. Why are vegans even on this page. Bunch of shit starting ass ratchets.

  48. Unknown says:

    @Michaelh1969, why are you on this page? You shit spouting ignoramus.

  49. I am going to head that way and take out every Coyote that I see and make me a nice hat and coat and cloves & a blanket to keep nice & warm in the winter months to come.

  50. Bachaus says:

    POS hunters! One less vermin walking around in the woods with a gun

  51. Anonymous says:

    One less animal abuser and murderer. Animals like it! <3

  52. Anonymous says:

    Im not even going to lie I'm surprised this doesnt happen more often.

  53. I cannot believe the ignorance of of some commenters. First of all, it is highly unethical and illegal to shoot at mere movement. Second, a civilian legal AR15 happens to be an excellent hunting rifle for light to medium small game, especially coyotes. For some reason an AK 47 was also mentioned in the comments. This is also not a bad weapon for hunting. Roughly equivalent to 30.30 Winchester center fire. A historically popular hunting cartridge.Coyotes are so abundant that laws are not even necessary to protect them. In fact in most cases, hunting them is encouraged by wildlife management agencies. To those who have chosen to be spectators and step out of the food chain by pretending that you are above hunting. I say you are frauds. Nothing but hypocrites who kill by proxy. Shut the hell up oxygen thieves! You are nothing more than human lemmings. May the creator bless the victims family and the man who shot him be punished accordingly.

  54. A bit of karma at the end of the day.

  55. Monty says:

    It has been a long time since I was in high school and my JROTC training taught us that when hunting you should wear an Orange vest so that other hunters will know you are not to be shot. We were also taught to know your target before you shoot. Seems like both of these guys were in the wrong. Also when hunting animals you do NOT need a military style weapon.

  56. Anonymous says:

    i love it when karma comes in it's full glorious splendor and bites these idiots in the ass. so awesome.

  57. mandy54 says:

    "I notice the writers of those comments denigrating the victim are all "anonymous". Not proud enough of your hateful comments to use your name???"
    Look who's talking UNKNOWN!

  58. I never could fathom what joy there is in pointing a gun at an animal who is merely living their life, to make it dead? It strikes me as very contradictory and actually, sociopathic that a society understanding that harming and abusing, killing animals is a red flag, warning, precursor for human violence, can't see the connection between the legal and moral double standards that allow this behavior. Especially when humans are victims of the same and the language of hunting animals AND humans overlaps. Stalk, bait, trap, target, trespass, take against the will or permission of the other.. It appears humans are victims of our own demonic treatment of animals. And yes, I am plant based and so better for it!!!

  59. Anonymous says:

    Oh well one less scumbag killing animals. Well really two because the other inbred is in jail.

  60. Irish says:

    Gawd I love Karma,wish this would happen to every vile hunter out there.

  61. Anonymous says:

    Happens every year to someone. Live by killing for sport, die by karma. Oh, and an AR-15, that sexy thing!

  62. I am not sure what he was thinking but it didn't turn out like he planned.

  63. Unknown says:

    Karma.....

  64. I feel bad for his family. His kids shouldn't have to suffer because of his mistake.

  65. woodman says:

    You should have to go through an approval process to kill a coyote. They are probably closer to God's creatures than any other canines. I think you need tso have community action to relocate these beautiful animals, but it is beyond most individuals to do the right thing without other people helping with things like relocation. Coyotes are essential to nature more so than cows, although cows need love, too.

  66. Anonymous says:

    This is hilarious!!! I love reading stories about hunters getting wasted. Puts a smile on my face.

  67. alexandra says:

    Good! Another animal murderer off the planet!

  68. Barjayne says:

    This guy is a pastor!!!
    He goes out killing animals
    Am i only one can't quite understand this
    Preaching word of God does not include killing living sentient beings for fun.

  69. Anonymous says:

    great effin' riddance ❤️ who's next

  70. Unknown says:

    If he had just painted a tunnel into the side of a mountain the coyote would have run right into it...

  71. Coyotes can be a problem and anyone who thinks this is karma and justifies it will have to answer for their thoughts against another human being... This is very sad... He was omly 26 years old and had a wife and two small children and anyone who owns a gun knows that you never shoot unless you have identified the target visually... If you think his death is justified think of his wife and children

  72. CATRYNA49 says:

    Dunn deserves to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Irresponsible gun use is a major problem in this country. Don't get me wrong, I love guns and have several of my own.

  73. Anonymous says:

    No one needs to kill any animal with an AK. Both guys were idiots. Karma never forgets.

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