In the quiet woods of Greenwood Township, Michigan, a day of squirrel hunting among mentors and friends turned into a scene of tragedy, forever altering the lives of two families. On February 18, 2017, thirteen-year-old William “Billy” G. Gort Jr., a young male from Wyoming, Michigan, was participating in a hunting trip organized by a youth outreach program called Christianity Outdoors. He was accompanied by a friend and their mentor, 62-year-old Roger Erick Hoeker, a man who was not only a youth pastor but also a certified hunter safety instructor. It was on this outing that a single shot from Hoeker's. 22-caliber rifle struck Billy in the back of the head, inflicting a fatal wound.
In the immediate aftermath, Hoeker claimed the shooting was a tragic accident, suggesting the bullet had ricocheted off a tree. However, as the Michigan State Police delved into the investigation, this initial account began to unravel. Detectives examining the scene could find no evidence to support the ricochet theory, casting a shadow of doubt over the instructor's explanation. The devastating incident led to Hoeker's arrest, and in August 2017, he was charged with involuntary manslaughter. Both Billy and his friend were wearing orange hunter safety gear at the time of the shooting.
The legal journey that followed was fraught with emotion and complexity. Before the criminal trial could reach a conclusion, the family of Billy Gort Jr. filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Hoeker and Christianity Outdoors. This civil action resulted in a $1 million settlement for the family. In the criminal case, the charge against Hoeker was eventually reduced from involuntary manslaughter to careless, reckless, or negligent discharge of a firearm causing death. A trial in June 2018 ended in a mistrial after a key piece of evidence, a deputy's report, was revealed to have not been shared with either the prosecution or the defense.
Ultimately, to avoid a second trial, Roger Hoeker entered a no-contest plea to the charge of careless discharge of a firearm resulting in injury or death. In September 2018, he was sentenced to 90 days in jail and one year of probation. During the sentencing, the courtroom was filled with the palpable grief and anger of Billy's family. His father and grandfather delivered emotional victim impact statements, directly addressing Hoeker and expressing their profound loss and belief that justice had not been fully served. Years later, in December 2024, a judge denied Hoeker's request to have the conviction expunged from his record, ensuring the legal record of the tragic event would remain.
