BECKER COUNTY, MN (trfnews.i234.me) – New details have emerged regarding the early Saturday morning shooting near Acorn Lake along Highway 10, west of Frazee, Minnesota. Formal charges have been filed against Willis McDonald of Frazee in the shooting death of Arlen Bergstrom Jr. of Detroit Lakes.
McDonald has been charged with Second-Degree Murder without intent while committing a felony and First-Degree Manslaughter for intentionally causing the death in the heat of passion. According to the statement of probable cause, on August 10th, around 1:20 a.m., Becker County law enforcement responded to a report of shots fired at the Acorn Lake Trailer Park. Upon arrival, they found that Bergstrom had been shot.
McDonald, who was later interviewed by authorities, recounted the events leading up to the shooting. He explained that he was initially at the Becker County Fair with his family and later received a message from a woman, inviting him over for a cigarette. When he arrived at her residence, they were sitting in his vehicle when Bergstrom approached, leading to a confrontation. McDonald claimed he feared for his life after Bergstrom allegedly broke his car window and began assaulting him. McDonald then reached for his gun and, after a struggle, fired two shots, one of which hit Bergstrom in the chest, leading to his death.
The medical examiner determined that the cause of Bergstrom’s death was a gunshot wound to the chest, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.
I’m Casey Rivers reporting for trfnews.i234.me