Hunter accused of killing boy in western Colorado is charged

Prosecutors have charged a man accused of fatally shooting a 14-year-old boy while hunting on western Colorado’s Grand Mesa.

The Mesa County District Attorney’s Office said Friday that 59-year-old Guy Pohto, of Cook, Minnesota, is charged with reckless manslaughter and hunting in a careless manner for the Sept. 13 death of Justin Burns, of Palisade.

The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reportsthe boy died of a gunshot wound to his chest at the Big Creek Reservoir in the Uncompahgre National Forest while bow hunting with his father.

Pohto is due in court Oct. 22. A phone number listed for him in Cook has been disconnected.

Justin’s obituary says he was an avid outdoorsman who loved nothing more than spending his time in the mountains with nature and his family.