Willis McDonald (Becker County Jail)
Frazee, MN – The suspect in Saturday morning’s (August 10th) shooting in Frazee that left a man dead is claiming he shot the victim in self-defense.
At around 1:20 Saturday morning, the Becker County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an adult male being shot at Acorn Lake Trailer Park in Frazee.
Emergency personnel responded and attempted lifesaving efforts, however 31-year-old Arlan Ray Bergstrom Jr. of Detroit Lakes was pronounced deceased at the scene.
According to Otter Tail County Sheriff records, 31-year-old Willis Charles McDonald called dispatch around half an hour later and reported that he had been part of the altercation in the trailer park, had shot Bergstrom Jr. in self-defense, and was at his residence on East Wymer Lake Road in Otter Tail County.
McDonald was arrested without incident at around 2 o’clock, 40 minutes after the initial report.
According to court documents, McDonald was later interviewed by the Minnesota BCA and the Becker County Sheriff’s Office, where he stated that he had met a woman when he and his family were at the Becker County Fair on Friday.
The woman allegedly messaged him later asking if he wanted to come over to her residence in Acorn Trailer Park for a cigarette.
When he arrived, the woman came out to his car, with McDonald stating that they were visiting and having a cigarette.
McDonald says that soon after, he saw Bergstrom Jr. outside his vehicle window and the woman told him to roll up his window.
Bergstrom then allegedly broke through McDonald’s window and began punching him.
McDonald says he feared for his life, and reached for his handgun at the back of the vehicle.
He also noted that he did not know or recognize Bergstrom, and that Bergstrom did not say anything to him during the encounter.
Bergstrom then allegedly reached for McDonald’s handgun and McDonald pulled the trigger and nothing happened.
Bergstrom allegedly kept hitting McDonald while he cocked the firearm and fired again.
After the second shot, Bergstrom stumble and fell to the ground.
McDonald says he then threw the gun into the backseat and the woman told him to leave.
McDonald admitted that he had not attempted to escape or leave the vehicle, that his permit to carry was expired, and that he had drank approximately four beers at the demolition derby earlier in the day.
He stated that he fled the scene to his residence, and called law enforcement to turn himself in after speaking with his sister.
The woman that was with McDonald during the incident was also interviewed by officials and her description of events largely matched his.
She confirmed that McDonald and Bergstrom did not know each other and had never met.
Bergstrom’s body was transported for autopsy, in which the medical examiner determined that the cause of death was homicide.
McDonald had his first court appearance earlier today (August 12th).
He is facing charges of 2nd Degree Murder Without Intent and 1st Degree Manslaughter.