Single dad fatally shoots son near throat (Dalton Township, Michigan)

Interesting family, to say the least. Dad MICHAEL HETTINGER lives with 3 sons AND the 5-year-old daughter of one of the sons. No mention of any mothers or any adult womenfolk here at all. So we have at least one custodial dad, maybe two (article doesn't mention the ages of all the sons.) Dad seems to be some sort of survivalist-type nut--160 weapons were found on the property. Seems inevitable that at some point, somebody would get shot or killed (in this case, the 28-year-old son).

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/muskegon_county/Father_fatally_shoots_son_near_throat

Father fatally shoots son near throat
Police find 160 weapons in home they shared
Updated: Monday, 13 Jul 2009, 11:52 AM EDTPublished : Sunday, 12 Jul 2009, 4:40 PM EDT


DALTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - A 51-year-old father will be charged with open murder after fatally shooting his 28-year-old son, Muskegon County prosecutor Tony Tague said.

Michael Hettiger will be arraigned Monday afternoon for allegedly killing his son, Matthew, after they argued Sunday morning at a mobile home located at 2900 Whitehall, Lot 76, near McMillan Road.

Police responding to the scene found 160 weapons in the trailer that the son and father shared. Tague said the elder Hettiger is a gun collector.

In addition to the father and son, two other sons and a 5-year-old daughter of one of the men also live at the home.

The victim was under the influence of alcohol, authorities believe, but his father was not.

The father allegedly shot his son with a handgun one time in the upper chest area, near the man's throat, Tague confirmed.

What the two men were arguing about is unknown. No one else was injured, based on initial reports.

24 Hour News 8's Henry Erb contributed to this report.