BUENA VISTA TWP, MI — A Buena Vista Township man has been charged with fatally shooting a longtime friend, albeit accidentally.
Informed there was a warrant out for his arrest, 56-year-old Frank L. Hudson on March 20 surrendered to authorities and was arraigned in Saginaw County District Court on one count of careless discharge of a firearm resulting in death. The charge is a high-court misdemeanor, punishable by up to two years’ incarceration.
District Judge David D. Hoffman freed Hudson on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond, a condition being that he not possess any weapons.
The charge stems from the Oct. 28 death of Joseph W. Diaz, 36. About 2:30 a.m., Hudson called 911 to summon police to his house in the 1600 block of North 29th St., said Buena Vista Township Detective Russ Pahssen. Responding police found Diaz suffering from a single gunshot wound to his chest.
Diaz was taken to a local hospital, where he died.
Hudson and Diaz were friends and had lived next door to each other for many years, Pahssen said.
Hudson had picked up Diaz from work earlier in the day, then they stopped at a local store to buy alcohol. They then went to Hudson’s house and began drinking and hanging out, Pahssen said.
At some point during the night, the two men heard what they thought were gunshots and went outside. It turned out they had heard fireworks.
On returning to the house, Hudson fetched his .45-caliber handgun from his vehicle and racked a round in the chamber, Pahssen said.
Continuing to drink and talk in the house, Hudson ended up pulling the gun’s trigger, firing the round that killed Diaz.
Pahssen added Hudson had a valid concealed pistol license. Police brought him to headquarters for questioning but released him without booking him in the jail. He has been cooperative and submitted to a blood draw, Pahssen said.
Authorities issued a warrant for Hudson after receiving toxicological results, indicating he had alcohol and cocaine in his system, Pahssen said.
At the time of his death, Diaz was employed as a driver for Amazon.
“Joseph enjoyed fishing, cooking, barbequing, and hanging out with family and friends,” his obituary reads.
Hudson is to appear for a preliminary examination on April 5.
