A Clarissa man has been charged in the death of a woman who was shot and killed early Saturday morning. Todd County authorities have charged 32-year-old Tyler Slagerman with one count of second degree unintentional manslaughter and one count of child endangerment.
According to the criminal complaint, Slagerman called 911 just before 2:00 a.m. Saturday to report 36-year-old Lacey Kuschel had been accidentally shot when a gun had fallen off the counter and discharged, hitting her in the upper part of her back.
When a sheriff’s deputy arrived on scene, he noticed a lever-action rifle on the ground in the living room. When the deputy entered the bedroom he noticed an infant in the crib and a distraught Slagerman doing chest compressions on the woman who was lying on the bed.
Records show Slagerman told the officer he had been out with friends earlier and had four drinks before returning home at approximately 12:45 a.m.
Slagerman said he later grabbed the rifle to go and check out why the dogs were barking, assuming there was a coyote in the yard. Kuschel was holding the baby because it had woke up crying due to the barking dogs.
Slagerman said when he grabbed the rifle from the corner, he turned around fast and headed toward the door. That’s when he said the gun went off and hit Kuschel. The baby was not hurt in the incident.
Court records show four hours later, Slagerman’s blood-alcohol level was .073 which is just below the legal limit to drive.
Slagerman is being held in the Todd County Jail on $100,000 unconditional bail.
Thanks to Lee Voss, MNN radio affiliate WJON.