In the small community of Merrill, Michigan, a birthday celebration took a tragic and irreversible turn on the night of Friday, January 19, 2018, leading to the death of 21-year-old Richard Cody Skillman. The evening was meant to be a joyous occasion, as friends gathered at the Bavarian Haus apartments to celebrate the 21st birthday of Zachary Allyn Woodcock.
However, the festive atmosphere was shattered in an instant.
According to authorities, Woodcock, who was the renter of the apartment, emerged from his bedroom with a handgun. In a moment that would forever alter the lives of all present, the firearm unintentionally discharged, striking Skillman in the chest. The single gunshot proved to be fatal, and Richard Skillman died at the scene. It is believed by investigators that alcohol was a contributing factor in the tragic incident.
Overwhelmed by grief and the immediate horror of what had transpired, Zachary Woodcock left the apartment as others were attempting to aid his friend. Moments later, the 20-year-old took his own life with the same firearm. Woodcock was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his self-inflicted injuries the following day. The devastating event was classified by law enforcement as an accidental shooting followed by a suicide.
The aftermath of the shooting left two families and a community in mourning. Investigators later found approximately 10 guns in Woodcock's apartment and Skillman's vehicle, noting that both young men had an interest in firearms. In the wake of the tragedy, no arrests were made as the individual responsible for Skillman's death was also deceased. The incident served as a grim reminder of the potential for tragedy when firearms and alcohol are mixed.
