Jury Finds Frazee Man That Shot a Man in a Trailer Park Not Guilty of Manslaughter

Willis McDonald (Becker County Jail)

Frazee, MN – A jury in Becker County has found a man that shot another man in a Frazee trailer park not guilty of manslaughter.

Last Friday (March 7th), 32-year-old Willis McDonald of Frazee was found not guilty of 1st Degree Manslaughter, but found guilty of knowingly shooting a victim and failing to render aid, leading to death. According to Becker County deputies, McDonald shot 31-year-old Arlan Bergstrom Jr. on August 10th, 2024 after Bergstrom had punched through McDonald’s car window and assaulted him.

McDonald told deputies that he had feared for his life and reached for his handgun. Bergstrom then also grabbed at the gun and McDonald fired, killing Bergstrom. McDonald left the scene as a witness that was in his car called 911. The witness confirmed McDonald’s story and said the two men did not know each other before the incident.

McDonald is set to receive his sentence on April 23rd.