In the early morning hours of May 17, 2015, the life of 15-year-old Caucasian male Mackeon Mackey Daniel Schulte was cut tragically short in Billings, Montana. What began as a youthful attempt to wake a friend turned into a devastating incident that would forever alter the lives of two families. Schulte and another friend had gone to the home of their 17-year-old friend, Seth Culver, around 2:30 a.m.
In an effort to get his attention, they knocked on his bedroom window and tossed pebbles at the glass.
Startled from his sleep by the unexpected noise, Culver became frightened. Unable to identify who was outside in the darkness, he reached for a. 38-caliber revolver that had been a gift from his father. From inside his room, he fired a single shot through the window. The bullet struck Schulte in the head. Emergency services were called, but the wound was fatal, and Schulte was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a local hospital. Both he and Culver were students at Billings Senior High School and were described as good friends.
In the aftermath of the shooting, authorities began a homicide investigation, but no immediate arrests were made. The case presented a complex legal question of whether the act was a tragic accident or a criminal act of negligence. The shooter, Seth Culver, expressed that he was scared, believed an intruder was trying to get into his house, and would never have fired if he had known it was his friend outside.
Ultimately, the Yellowstone County Attorney convened a special coroner's jury to review the case and recommend whether criminal charges should be filed. In August 2015, after hearing testimony, the jury determined that the shooting was a justifiable homicide. They concluded that Culver was justified in his fear of an intruder and that the act was not criminal. Schulte's own mother described the shooting as a clear accident and publicly stated her support for Seth Culver, acknowledging the tragic nature of the situation for everyone involved. Following the jury's finding, the county attorney was to make the final decision on whether to pursue charges.
