In the small town of Ovid, Michigan, a life was tragically cut short in December of 2011. David Andrew Grant, an 18-year-old male, passed away on December 21st of that year. A recent graduate of Ovid-Elsie High School, he was known for his involvement in tennis and bowling and worked as an apprentice tree trimmer in his family's business. His death, initially reported as unexpected, would soon be revealed as a case of reckless misadventure with fatal consequences.
The circumstances
surrounding Grant's death were initially unclear to first responders. A 9-1-1 call suggested that Grant might have overdosed on synthetic marijuana. He was transported to a hospital but died in the ambulance. It wasn't until the following day that a medical examiner discovered the true cause of death: a pellet from a high-powered pellet gun had pierced his back, struck his aorta, and caused fatal internal bleeding. It is uncertain if Grant himself was aware that he had been shot.
The investigation into Grant's death led to his 20-year-old roommate, Aaron Feliu. According to court testimony, the two had been smoking synthetic marijuana and were 'horsing around' when Feliu shot Grant with the pellet rifle. The two had only been living together for a few months prior to the incident. Feliu eventually confessed to the police about the shooting.
Initially charged with second-degree murder, Aaron Feliu later pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of manslaughter. In court, a tearful Feliu expressed his remorse and stated that he wished he could trade places with Grant. In May 2012, a judge in Clinton County Circuit Court sentenced Feliu to a minimum of three years in prison for his role in his roommate's death. In addition to his prison sentence, Feliu was also ordered to pay over $15,000 in restitution.
