A Lincoln County jury found a 59-year-old Merrill woman not guilty of charges that stemmed from her shooting her boyfriend in the leg. Debra A. Engel was charged with 2nd degree reckless injury and aggravated battery-intend great bodily harm in connection with the July 2, 2015 incident at her residence on Hwy. 107. Following a two-day trial, the jury deliberated for less than two hours before rendering the not guilty verdicts on both charges.
According to court records, Engel called law enforcement on July 2, stating she had just shot the man. When law enforcement arrived, they found her helping care for his wound. The man, Joseph M. Busterud, 52, of Merrill, had been shot in the leg with a .17HMR rifle and was bleeding.
Engel told officers she had shot Busterud because he “came at her.” According to court records, Engel said Busterud had struck her during an argument earlier in the day. He then left the residence. When he returned, Engel was armed with the rifle and threatened to shoot him if he approached her.
Busterud was charged in September for his part in the incident. He faces charges of battery, possession of a firearm by a felon, false imprisonment and intimidating a victim by use of force. Busterud’s jury trial is set for March 2016.