Hunting Death Ruled Justifiable Homicide Charges Will Not Be Filed In Shooting Incident

The shooting death of a 43-year-old Coeur d’Alene man during a Thanksgiving hunting confrontation was justifiable homicide, the Latah County prosecutor announced Monday.

After reviewing investigation reports, interviewing everyone at the shooting and considering other information, Prosecutor Bill Thompson decided not to file charges in the death of Michael K. McQueen.

McQueen was shot by Corey D. Cooper, 22, of rural Latah County during a confrontation in the Tamarack Ridge area of southeastern Latah County. Cooper and his father, Donald, had encountered McQueen and his brother Patrick earlier in the day.

The McQueens were on four-wheelers. The elder Cooper exchanged words with Michael McQueen over the use of four-wheelers.

Less than an hour later, the McQueens overtook the Coopers as they were walking down a road, according to a press release issued by the sheriff’s department and the prosecutor. As the Coopers turned toward the McQueens, Michael McQueen pulled a .32-caliber pistol out of his belt and pointed it at the Coopers.

“Both of the Coopers and Patrick McQueen told investigators that they believed Michael McQueen discharged a round from his pistol,” the press release said.

In response, Corey Cooper fired a round from his .338-caliber rifle. That bullet clipped the front of the stock of Michael McQueen’s rifle, which was resting on the handlebars of his four-wheeler, and struck McQueen in the upper right abdomen.

Patrick McQueen began administering first aid to his brother. The Coopers used the other four-wheeler to get their pickup and called for an ambulance on their cell phone, the sheriff’s office said.

Patrick McQueen and Donald Cooper attempted to give CPR to McQueen in the pickup while Corey Cooper drove them to meet the ambulance. A medical helicopter also was dispatched.

McQueen, however, died just an hour after the initial confrontation.

, DataTimes