In a quiet corner of Riley Township, Michigan, a day in March of 2018 turned tragic for 73-year-old Shirley Pfeil. She was in her kitchen on Dunn Road with her husband, Bill, when a sudden, loud crack pierced the air. In the next moment, Shirley collapsed, the victim of a stray bullet that had traveled from a neighboring property and through her kitchen window.
The shot was fired by a 21-year-old neighbor, Michael Vultaggio, who had been engaging in target practice with a long-range
rifle in his yard. He was reportedly shooting at a dirt berm intended to act as a backstop. Tragically, one of the rounds missed its mark, leading to the fatal outcome at the Pfeil residence. Initially, Vultaggio was not taken into custody and was said to be cooperating with the Michigan State Police, expressing devastation upon learning that his actions had led to a death.
As the investigation progressed, the St. Clair County prosecutor's office reviewed the case. Subsequently, Michael Vultaggio was charged in connection with Shirley Pfeil's death. The charges brought against him were careless discharge of a firearm resulting in death and lying to a police officer during the investigation. This brought a legal dimension to the personal tragedy that had struck the Pfeil family and the local community.
