A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources firefighter was struck by a stray pellet from a shotgun while working at the end of the Arrowhead Trail on October 3, 2012. Ed Walimaa, 47, of Grand Marais was at the McFarland Lake heliport base when Patrick Lynn Larson, 42, St. Paul, fired his Remington 870 shotgun. A single pellet from the shotgun struck Walimaa in the right ear.
According to the Cook County Law Enforcement firearms incident report, Larson drove past a grouse on the right side of the road. Larson exited his vehicle and stepped off the roadway to shoot at the bird, which was uphill from where he stood. Walimaa was in the line of fire on the other side of the hill, out of sight.
Walimaa and his co-worker, Jacob Sivertson, talked to the hunter, who admitted he had fired the shotgun. He provided his hunting license and contact information.
Walimaa did not need ambulance transport to Cook County North Shore Hospital. He was seen at the hospital for removal of the pellet and released.
Walimaa and Larson were interviewed and the site of the shooting was investigated and it was determined that the incident was a legitimate hunting accident. There was no indication of drugs or alcohol being involved. No charges were filed.
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