VermontHunter Posted November 26, 2005 Report Share Posted November 26, 2005 This is a few days old but I wanted to wait on further news before posting about this unfortunate and trajic accident.... My thoughts and prayers go out to this family,, this one was way too close to home.... St. Albans Town, Vermont - November 24, 2005 "Any type of tragedy around the holiday is particularly tragic," says Vt. State Police Lt. Brian Miller. Police say the tragedy unfolded last night after Regine Lussier, 60, was found dead in the cab of his tractor. It was about 150 yards behind his dairy farm on the Middle Road. The lifelong farmer had been shot once. "He had been hunting in the field as he does, I guess routinely, (Wednesday) afternoon, hunting from his tractor. And when he didn't come home (Wednesday) night, some friends went out and did find him deceased in the tractor," Miller explained. Police were uncertain if the shooting was an accident or a crime until they were contacted by four local hunters who had learned of Lussier's death on the eleven o'clock news Wednesday. Then, it became apparent it was a hunting accident. "(Thursday) morning we had some folks come forward that had been hunting in that field and were shooting in the direction of where Mr. Lussier was hunting seated in his tractor," said Miller. Sources close to the investigation tell us that the police have already determined who fired the fatal shot. The name could be released within a day or two. But it's unclear if any criminal charges will be filed. Meanwhile, Regine Lussier's family and many friends gathered at his home on a day that turned Thanksgiving into a day of mourning. Brian Joyce - Channel 3 News Folks please be sure of what is beyond your target... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TreeStandBowHunter Posted November 26, 2005 Report Share Posted November 26, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont That is in deed sad but unlikley that criminal charges will be filed seeing how them came forward like they did. Keep us posted Luke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted November 26, 2005 Report Share Posted November 26, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont What a tragedy. I know it was an accident, but people have to take deeper consideration of their target, and what lies behind their target. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fisherguy Posted November 26, 2005 Report Share Posted November 26, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont anyone who can't notice a tractor behind their target should be in jail! If it occurred as the story says IMO this is negligent homicide not an accident! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimT Posted November 26, 2005 Report Share Posted November 26, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont Thats a real shame. Wow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted November 26, 2005 Report Share Posted November 26, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont Wow, that is so sad! Scary to! Opening day, I was walking back to meet Andy when he said wait on theo ne side of this creek because there was a guy down there. Well i walked back up the field and up on this bank behind a big maple tree. The guy down below on the other side knew I was there and I knew he was there. A doe came running in between us, I didn't see it, and he shot at it, I directly across from him on this bank. I was so lucky I dind't get shot and let me tell you, I was ticked! Be careful our there people, some people care more about filling the tag than being safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dg Posted November 26, 2005 Report Share Posted November 26, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont That IS sad. I feel for the family that lost a loved one. And I feel for the one who shot. It's not right, but not many would come forward and say they did it. I don't know the whole story so I'll refrain anymore. But bullets can ricochet, and tractors can be parked behind round hay bales, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VtBowhunter Posted November 26, 2005 Report Share Posted November 26, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont They were shooting in the direction of a farmers field and possibly his home, without being able to see either, but they obiously knew both were theresince it clicked to them that they were responsible, so if you ask me this is negligent homicide and the shooter needs to do some time. They knew the field was there and that it was farmed........they shouldn't have been shooting in that direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted November 26, 2005 Report Share Posted November 26, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont Thats unfortunate indeed!!! And a preventable accident too... We just had a simular situatuion here the other eve....My Niece and her husband were out in a tower blind overlooking a 30 acre field. Deer were out andfeeding in the corn stubble, all of a sudden a hunter on the upper end of this field steps out of the treeline and starts firing at the deer which were inbetween them, or so it seemed..the deer closest toi the hunter runs down towards the blind, it sure caused panic in the tower, as we have frozen ground now and we know how bulletts can richchet(sp) They got on the two way and I could hear the concern about this situation, so I called 911 and reported this to the law enforcement dispatcher, which in turn our Dnr warden called me right back followed by two sheriffs squad cars on the way. Now after this hunter shot, the deer ran off the field, he turns and walks off the field, not even going to follow up on the deer he shot at!! Well the law caught up with him, and I have not heard what became of it...I did request that they have a serious talk about safety.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted November 26, 2005 Report Share Posted November 26, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont Thats unfortunate indeed!!! And a preventable accident too... We just had a simular situatuion here the other eve....My Niece and her husband were out in a tower blind overlooking a 30 acre field. Deer were out andfeeding in the corn stubble, all of a sudden a hunter on the upper end of this field steps out of the treeline and starts firing at the deer which were inbetween them, or so it seemed..the deer closest toi the hunter runs down towards the blind, it sure caused panic in the tower, as we have frozen ground now and we know how bulletts can richchet(sp) They got on the two way and I could hear the concern about this situation, so I called 911 and reported this to the law enforcement dispatcher, which in turn our Dnr warden called me right back followed by two sheriffs squad cars on the way. Now after this hunter shot, the deer ran off the field, he turns and walks off the field, not even going to follow up on the deer he shot at!! Well the law caught up with him, and I have not heard what became of it...I did request that they have a serious talk about safety....and ethics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beagleboy Posted November 27, 2005 Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont It's a sad day in the hunting world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted November 27, 2005 Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont another in a long series of very sad stories Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkrie1357 Posted November 27, 2005 Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont No Good can Come from this. I had a close friend in our Hunting Group of 8, Fately Shot in 89. He & I had just been to his house (15 min prior) to see his Deer Mount 167 score from the previous year he had just gotten back that week. I had to go back with his brother & tell his Wife & Kids. That's Worst thing that I have ever had to do!!!! Some day we will all be Judged, I'll let that someone who knows what happened, do the Judging of these Fellow Hunters. My Heart Hurts for All those Involved. The Sun Never Shines On Dec 3rd for Me Anymore. Valkrie1357 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6sixpoint_nobrows Posted November 27, 2005 Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont man that it terrible! people need ot be a lot more careful on what they are doing, accidents like this are starting to occure more and more often...we need more common sense these days....people are too quick to do things before thinking it through.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted December 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont Well some news has finally came down on this trajidy, so I thought I would pass it along here..... Involuntary manslaughter charges expected in hunting death St. ALBANS, Vt. -- A teenage deer hunter will be charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of a St. Albans man who was shot while sitting on his tractor. Collin Viens, 18, of Georgia, has been cited to appear in court Monday. Rejean Lussier, 60, was shot Nov. 23 while he was hunting from the cab of his tractor on his farm. Investigators said the shot came from about 250 yards away. Lussier's death marked the third time this year that a hunter shot and killed another person rather than wildlife. No such fatalities occurred last year; 2003 and 2004 saw one each. This story was copied from this link.... http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=4222154 I'm not sure if this charge is harsh enough based on the info I have read.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HitRmisS Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont thats a horible thing to hear, i hope it does turn out as a true accident and not a case of not being sure of your target and whats beyond it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VtBowhunter Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont They need to come up with something harsher then I.M. He's only get a couple years max and probably only probation. What a joke.......but on the plus side he'll never hunt again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted December 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont [ QUOTE ] They need to come up with something harsher then I.M. He's only get a couple years max and probably only probation. What a joke.......but on the plus side he'll never hunt again. [/ QUOTE ] I agree Josh... They were clearly using this tractor as target practice, and this should be atleast Neglagent Homicide IMHO.....Im just curious as to why the other 3 didn't face some type of charge as well,, atleast wilfull intent to damage private property.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VtBowhunter Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont If they were indeed using the tractor as an aiming point then it should be nothing less then Murder 2, but I had not heard that they were aiming for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted December 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont I'll have to find that other article that the States Attorney released on Monday that all four said they just wanted to see if they could hit the Tractor from that distance..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VtBowhunter Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont Well then all 4 should be up on Murder charges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted December 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont OOOps I mis-spoke Josh,, but I think the effect is the same IMO.. Here is the statement from the States Attorney.... Thursday December 9, 2005 Georgia teen faces charge of manslaughter Fatal shot ruled involuntary By LEON THOMPSON Messenger Staff Writer ST. ALBANS TOWN –– Vermont State Police (VSP) confirmed today that an 18-year-old Georgia man would be charged with shooting and killing St. Albans Town dairy farmer Rejean Lussier on Nov. 23. Collin Viens, 18, was cited today for involuntary manslaughter, VSP Lt. Brian Miller said in a press release issued late this morning. Viens will be arraigned at Vermont District Court Monday, according to Franklin County State’s Attorney Jim Hughes. Vermont’s maximum penalty for manslaughter is one to 15 years in prison and up to $3,000 in fines. Last week, Hughes said he would press criminal charges against one of four hunters who came forward after Lussier’s death. Hughes was waiting for ballistics results and other investigative material, including information police gleaned from numerous interviews. Hughes would not comment on Viens’ citation today, because a judge has not found probably cause to officially charge him. Hughes does not expect more charges in the case. “At least not at this point,” he said. “Stranger things have happened.” Lussier, 60, was hunting from inside his tractor cab on his Middle Road farm when he was shot between 4 and 4:30 p.m. the day before Thanksgiving. Friends found him at about 7:30 p.m., after he didn’t return home. On Thanksgiving Day, the quartet of young hunters all 18 or older, told police they were in the vicinity of the tractor Wednesday afternoon. The shot was fired from about 250 yards away. Police have not said whether Lussier’s tractor was a target. The tractor was up against brush, far off his Middle Road field. Only one shot hit the tractor and the victim, but police found two shell casings at the scene. The fatal shot hit a side window of Lussier’s tractor. Lussier’s death is Vermont’s third hunting fatality of the year and the > fourth shooting death in Franklin County. Farmers have said the incident has made them more cautious about hunting season. Local legislators, municipal employees and representatives from various Franklin County businesses and organizations attended Lussier’s funeral in St. Albans City last week. Lussier owned and operated his Middle Road dairy farm for 35 years. I don't know Josh, I still think something harsher should have been dished out in this case.... maybe Im wrong..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted December 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont Well for one thing an 18 year old isn't a kid..... And shooting at a tractor in a field isn't a mistake, it's an act of destructive neglagence....in my book.. And I bet you wouldn't have the same outlook if this man was one of your relatives... Do I and vtbowhunter sound harsh,,, yep a man was killed less than 250 yrds. away.... what they didn't see the tractor ??? The four of them would have to be blind.... and if you would have bothered to read the whole thing he didn't shoot just once,, the evidence collected points to him shooting atleast twice, so where's the mistake....???? And my oops was in refference that I thought the prosicuter said he wanted to see if he could hit the tractor..... What would you have us say ?? Yep that's fine he made a mistake, so to heck with the family involved, and make him feel better just because he came forward ??? Maybe they came forward because people knew they were there, so they thought it best to beat them to the punch and volunteer themselfs before someone else did.... I don't know I wasn't there.... But I will say this the man was shot from his tractor less than 250 yrds, from where he/they shot from ... you draw the conclusions..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont IMHO It was a hunting "ACCIDENT". I seriously doubt the tractor was a target. Although I do not know every tiny detail I think the poor kid is getting more then he should. It was a plain and simply 1 and 1000000000000 shot that happen to hit the tractor and then the hunter inside. A freak accident. It could of happened to anyone. If in fact its detremined he was shooting at the tractor on purpose, I doubt he knew there was someone inside. At 250 yards at last light its doubtfull he could see anyone inside especially if it had a field edge background. Besides why would he even bother such a foolish thing. He probably was shooting at a deer in the direct same path as the tractor. Its a sad thing for both sides... One life has been extinquished and the other is over before it started... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
too_pointer Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Re: SAD Hunting Accident In Vermont It sounds like tresspassing to me also unless I read this wrong It is just tragic. too_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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