On a Monday afternoon, the quiet of the Mansfield Fish and Game club was shattered by a tragic incident that would end the life of one of its own. On September 8, 2014, Stephen Backstrom, a 65-year-old male resident of Mansfield, was at the club when a. 30-30 Marlin hunting rifle he was handling discharged. The resulting gunshot wound proved to be fatal.
Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 2:55 p.m. reporting a gunshot victim.
When police and first responders arrived, they found Mr. Backstrom deceased. The Mansfield Police Department's Detective Division, along with the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit, immediately began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
As the investigation progressed, details emerged that pointed not to a criminal act, but to a heartbreaking accident. A spokesman for the Bristol County District Attorney's Office stated that there was no suspicion of foul play in Mr. Backstrom's death. This sentiment was echoed by the vice president of the Mansfield Fish and Game club, who asserted that the incident was "definitely an accident." In the wake of the event, the Mansfield Police Department reassured the public that this was an isolated incident and there was no cause for alarm in the local community.
Stephen, who was born in Milaca, Minnesota on July 7, 1949, had been a resident of Mansfield for the last ten years of his life. A graduate of Norton High School, he had a long career as an attendant at the Medfield State Hospital. He was known for his passion for collecting and was an enthusiast of model trains. A memorial service was held later that month to honor the life of a man remembered as a beloved brother and uncle.
