Hunting Accident in Sibley County

[birdswacker]

I feel bad for the mother and boy.

Throw the book at the dad.

[croixflats]

this is a reminder what Alcohal and other chemicals can do to ones judgment. So lets keep in mind if we pick up that beer you may feel you have control of you faculties but you are never in full control when you have mood altering chemicals in your system.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Really sad situation.. Kid had no chance to grow up normal. Just think dad drove him to the hunt under the influence as well... Some people should not be parents!

[paceman]

It is getting worse. This morning the TV said the shooting was not accidental according to the sheriff down there... The guy had a mental condition.

[Farley]

Well, since the TV said it, it must be true.

Go start rumors somewhere else.

[doser]

I hadn't heard the mental illness thing. I'm good friends with the Sheriff and he had said to me a couple weeks ago already that the media was already making some false statement in the paper and on TV. Two of the other deputies that were on scence that I'm also friends with had told me that there was more to the story that was going to come out , but couldn't elaborate obviously. I was trying to figure out what it would be for the last couple weeks , but I never guessed this!

[harvey lee]

As has been stated before, this is a very sad story no matter what happened that day. Lets try and keep only the facts here and not go to the rumor mill.

[Sandmannd]

 Originally Posted By: doser

I hadn't heard the mental illness thing. I'm good friends with the Sheriff and he had said to me a couple weeks ago already that the media was already making some false statement in the paper and on TV.

What?? The media not reporting facts? When did this start? Like they ever report only facts. Some of the fish wraps around here really bite when it comes to what to report on.

[Swill]

Terrible story.

Does anyone think mom will be held accountable? She must have know Dad like to drink and drive, smoke the weed, and I am guessing, used bad judgement on a number of times.

My prayers are with his son, he never had a chance growing up in that house.

[tealitup]

Stupid - just plain stupid. This was not an accident it was an event that was bound to happen sometime with guy.

[Kidd]

We can all agree that this was a horrible tragedy. Let's look at everything that was going on at the time of the shooting. The dad was drinking and smoking dope, which certainly clouds anyones judgment, and in addition to that, he was poaching, as he had no license, and was trespassing.

( Note from admin,please read forum policy before posting agasin,thank-you)

[huntnfishsd]

 Originally Posted By: Kidd

I would bet any amount of money that what was going through his head at the time of the shooting was to kill a bird quick and get the "H" out of there before he got caught. This thinking is what made him pull the trigger prior to identifying his target.

Good point, which makes this all the more tragic...

[harvey lee]

The man lost his son and that is quite tragic. I'm not sure how it gets any worse. One can continue to point fingers all month long but it will not change anything.

The man made a huge mistake in his thinking and is now paying the ultimate price for it. I just don't believe that we need to continue to pick this person apart.

There is nothing to gain from this anymore and hopefully some, who may hunt the same way, will take notice and learn from it.

I would assume that if GOD can forgive him, maybe we all can too.

[paceman]

Well said harvey lee.....

[BigGrassBass]

Well said Harvey Lee.

This man obviously has some demons he is fighting and now on top of that he has lost his son. I agree with everyone that we need to keep the mother and kid in our prayers but we also need to pray for the man who shot his son as well. Maybe he can finally use this to put those demons to rest and use this as an example of what can happen and educate others. Nothing can change what happened that day. But maybe getting the story out there can prevent it from happening again somewhere else.

I'm not one to judge, that power was handed down a couple thousand years ago.

[Hammer Handle]

I feel bad for the family and the dad...but it still really bugs me.

I would LOVE to take a son/daughter hunting with me. Unfortunately, my wife and I can't have kids.

It is hard to think why people that treat their kids like this are allowed to have a family and I am not. Kids are a blessing, treat them that way!

[Sandmannd]

 Originally Posted By: Hammer Handle

I feel bad for the family and the dad...but it still really bugs me.

I would LOVE to take a son/daughter hunting with me. Unfortunately, my wife and I can't have kids.

It is hard to think why people that treat their kids like this are allowed to have a family and I am not. Kids are a blessing, treat them that way!

I agree with you HH. I feel bad for everyone and sad for the Dad for what he has to grieve for. But..and it's a huge BUT, I have absolutely no respect for him and he should get the book thrown at him. This was all on him and his irresponsibility. This child should be alive. Is drinking and pot so important to you that you put others lives in danger? Then you need to stay home and not have kids. I don't drink hardly ever, and wouldn't even concider it when out hunting. To me the outdoors is a natural high.

HH, I know where you're coming from on not being able to have kids. We were in the same boat. I discusts me to see how some people that keep popping them out treat them and then good folks can't have any. Seems unfair. My wife and I adoption and it's been the best thing to ever happen to me in my life. I would encourage you to look into it if you would like children. They are what makes life, life.

[crazyice]

Wow, where does one begin with this topic. I just spent the better part of an hour reading every single reply to this topic. I am originally from Arlington and when I first heard of this tragic event, I couldn't help but think what pain this guy must be going through. Some weird coincidences, the location (my home area) and my oldest son, who is 3 1/2 is also named Hunter, and loves to tag along whenever I will allow. I am trying my best to teach him the right way to do things, both ethically and legally. This situation only reminds me just how important it is to teach our kids the right way to enjoy the outdoors. I admit that when I learned of the circumstances surrounding the accident that I am furious that someone could be so disregarding of the law to act this way, and basically show his kid that it is okay to do things like this, but I still feel sorrow for him. I honestly don't think that I could live with myself if I killed my own son. But I wouldn't have acted in the way that he did. I take pride in doing things ethically and legally. Yes, I enjoy a cold one now and then, but as mentioned by others, I never mix it with firearms. The ramifications of what could happen are to great. I don't want to pass judgement on anyone, that is for a greater being, and this poor fellow will have to live with what he did for the rest of his life, but he does need to be punished by the law for the various laws that were broken. It is just too bad that we had to find out that he was breaking the law by him shooting his son, and ultimately causing his death. No punishment handed down by a judge could possibly be greater than the burden of knowing that he snuffed the life out of a child that didn't get to know the true joys of the outdoors, and just live life to it's fullest. I don't know which emotion is running greater in me right now, saddness that a young life was lost due to the irresposible acts, or anger that someone could be that irresposible. Either way, nothing will bring this poor child back and the best that we can do as an outdoors community is to learn from what has happened, and do our best to make sure it doesn't happen again. Wether that is through educating our children or double checking ourselves as we head out the door to hunt or fish. I know that this event will forever be etched in my memory, especially when I take my own Hunter out for his first hunt. As the saying goes, Fogive and Forget, let's forgive this guy as hard as that may be, but let's not forget what we have learned. We all know that guns and alcohol/drugs don't mix, and this is just a tough reminder of that. My heart and prayers go out to the whole family involved, and to the people that were at the scene trying to save this little boys life, as I am sure something like this changes them forever. Enough of my rant. God bless.

[imhooked]

As I read this story, two separate emotions conflict.

First emotion is sadness for the family and the son.

The second is anger. This was pure carelessness. Let us not sugar coat it.

If you drive over the legal blood alcohol limit and kill someone, that is not an accident.

This dad will never pick up a gun again.

[harvey lee]

Anger will not bring back little Hunter. We can get as upset as we want but it will gain anything.

We all need to be a little more careful and make sure to remind all to be very careful when out hunting and educate all about gun safety.

[Glockwinger]

I don't think a day has gone by that I have not thought about this accident. I have a 7 year old boy, and I have fought back the tears as I have read about this incident over the past weeks. I just read the 911 transcript on the Channel 5 HSOforum and had to swallow hard again. My heart breaks for that little boy. I won't go after the father...I think enough has been said already...some I agree with, some I don't. What I do know is that this man will have to live with this for the rest of his life. He knows he screwed up, and I make no excuses for what he did. There are going to be very hard times for this family in the next months and years. My prayers go out to the family, including the father.

[BigGrassBass]

I just pulled this off the pioneer press web site. I know a lot of people are following this story.

Here ya go:

Anthony M. Klaseus, 39, the Belle Plaine man charged with killing his son, Hunter, 8, while poaching turkey April 19, made his first appearance in Sibley County District Court today.

He was released after the arraignment without bail, but must follow several conditions, including:

* Not using or possessing drugs or alcohol

* Not using or possession firearms

* Not leaving Minnesota without a court order

Klaseus had marijuana and alcohol in his system when he shot his son after mistaking him for a turkey. He faces felony charges of second-degree manslaughter and reckless discharge of a firearm, as well as misdemeanor counts for trespassing and hunting turkeys without a license.

Klaseus's next court date is 1 p.m. June 19.

[tealitup]

thanks for the update

[Sandmannd]

Thanks for the update. I haven't been looking to see what's been going on.

[BigGrassBass]

Just got this off the Strib HSOforum. I still choke up every time I read one of the articles. Hopefully God is taking care of this little boy...

GAYLORD, MINN. -- The Belle Plaine man charged with fatally shooting his 8-year-old son while turkey hunting pleaded guilty today to second-degree manslaughter in Sibley County District Court.

The other charges against Anthony Klaseus, 40, were dropped: reckless discharge of a firearm and two misdemeanors: trespassing and hunting turkeys without a license.

The criminal complaint showed that Klaseus had alcohol and marijuana in his system when he shot his son, Hunter, in the chest on the evening of April 19.

"It was a tough decision, debating whether to go to trial or not," Klaseus' attorney, Patrick Flanagan, said after the court hearing. "In the end, Anthony just believed that this was the best result for him and his family so they can begin the important healing portion."

Flanagan said he and his client were weighing the plea offer from the start, but only decided to accept it an hour before today's hearing.

Klaseus said little during the hearing, only affirming the sequence of events in questions posed to him. At one point, he broke down in tears and a deputy handed him tissue while Flanagan patted him on the back.

Among the eight or so supporters of Klaseus at the hearing were his wife, Amber, his parents and a sister.

Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 25. Flanagan declined to comment on what punishment Klaseus might receive.

The Klaseus family recently moved from Belle Plaine, Flanagan said, but still lives in the area.

According to the charges: Klaseus and Hunter were on the edge of a field east of Crahan Lane near County Rd. 6 in Sibley County about 5 p.m. when they spotted some turkeys. Klaseus told his son to stay put as he circled the field to approach them.

He called to the turkeys. They moved toward him. He heard something snap or break near him and then saw a figure rise up. He shot the object, thinking it was a turkey.

"Then my son jumped back up screaming and then fell back down," he told authorities as stated in the complaint.

Hunter, dressed in full camouflage, had wandered up near his father.

Klaseus took a breath test at the scene that registered a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.06 percent, the complaint said. A urine test revealed the presence of marijuana; the exact concentration was not disclosed.

Several partially empty beer packs and a marijuana pipe were found in his truck at the scene, the complaint said.

Chao Xiong • 612-673-4391