by Jess Oaks

joaks@torringtontelegram.com

GOSHEN COUNTY – The Goshen County District Court, in Torrington, was in session Tuesday, June 18 at 10:30 a.m. for the arraignment of 20-year-old Pinedale, Wyoming resident, Gaige Zook.

Zook is facing a manslaughter charge in a felony-level court for a January 20, 2024, hunting accident which left a 19-year-old Minnesota resident, Maurizio Dadin Justiniano, dead. 

According to the arrest warrant dated April 8, Zook and three males were duck hunting along the North Platte River near the junction of Wyoming State Highway 156 and County Road 37, outside of Torrington, when the accident occurred. 

“Torrington Central Dispatch received a call of a male who had been accidentally shot while hunting along the North Platte River, on Saturday, January 20 around 2:30 p.m., a release from the Goshen County Sheriff’s and Coroner’s Offices said,” a previous (January 24) Telegram article read. “The death has been ruled an accident, according to the release.”

According to the criminal warrant, Zook was charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter and if convicted Zook could face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. 

Court documents indicated that Zook was sitting between two other men and when he attempted to shoot at a duck, his gun misfired. According to the affidavit, Zook then leaned his gun against a fallen tree and borrowed his hunting companion’s 20-gauge shotgun. After shooting at the duck and missing, Zook then went back to his gun to check into the problem.

“As he (Zook) was trying to evaluate his firearm, due to the misfire, the shotgun discharged, striking Maurizio in the left side of his abdominal area,” the affidavit continued.

“I believe that Gaige Zook failed to properly and safely clear his weapon of malfunctions and by having it pointed in an unsafe direction when it discharged directly led to and caused the death of Maurizio Justiniano,” court documents read. 

During the arraignment hearing, Zook appeared via video in front of Goshen County District Court Judge, Edward Buchanan, with his counsel Clay Kainer and Goshen County Prosecuting Attorney, Eric Boyer, representing the State of Wyoming. 

Zook was advised of his constitutional rights once the hearing began. 

“If you should plead guilty or be found guilty of this charge known as involuntary manslaughter, it would be a felony with a maximum possible penalty of imprisonment of not more than 20 years, a $10,000 fine, or both,” Buchanan said.

“Mr. Zook will be pleading not guilty,” Kainer responded.

Court stood in recess with a trial date to be scheduled shortly after 10:40 a.m.