An accidental off-campus shooting on Wednesday, Dec. 12 involving two Northern Michigan University students left one individual injured, while another was arrested and charged with a two count misdemeanor warrant, according to Marquette City Police Department Detective Capt. Gordon Warchock.
At 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 12, police received a call from NMU student Nicholas Ireland, who had accidentally discharged a friends’ .45 caliber handgun in the living area of a residence on Fisher Street, according to a press release from the Marquette City Police.
In the same press release, it is said that Ireland had taken the weapon from another individual as a safety precaution, but had allowed the weapon to discharge upon handling it.
Lauren Cockels, another NMU student, was lying on the couch in the living area when she was struck in the right knee with a bullet from the discharged weapon.
Other individuals in the room aided Cockels as Ireland called 911.
Ireland was arrested on one charge of careless discharge causing injury—a high court misdemeanor carrying a punishment of up to two years in prison and $2,000 fine-. According to the press release, Ireland was also charged with one misdemeanor count of possession of a weapon while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Prior to his hearing on Friday, Jan. 14, Ireland was released on a Personal Recognizance bond.
At the hearing, he plead no contest to the charge of possessing a firearm while under the influence, according to Marquette County Prosecutor Matt Weise. He was dismissed of one charge of careless discharge causing injury.
If charged, Ireland could spend up to 93 days in jail, in addtion to a $500 dollar fine, according to Weise.
Ireland is scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday, Feb. 19.
