Man arrested for accidental shooting near Hill Cumorah

MANCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — New York State Police said a Fairport man was arrested after he was target shooting and accidentally hit an apartment window near the Hill Cumorah complex in Machester on Wednesday.

Michael Bushart, 23, was arrested for reckless endangerment and was arraigned on Thursday morning. Troopers seized long guns from Bushart.

Police said visitors and residents of all Hill Cumorah facilities were ordered to shelter in place after the bullet struck the apartment window. SWAT Teams from two counties and state troopers helped them to evacuate. There were about 75 people in the apartment building at the time and no one was injured.

An investigation found that Bushart was target shooting in farmland west of Hill Cumorah when he hit the apartment. State police responded to a report of shots fire around 5:45 p.m. State troopers, along with Ontario County deputies, said they heard more shots fired after they arrived on the scene.

Hill Cumorah is an important religious site to the Mormons, the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Up until 2020, the church organized its annual Hill Cumorah pageant to celebrate and inform people about the church’s beliefs.

Eric Hawkins, a spokesman with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, released the following statement:

"This afternoon, several shots were fired at or near the Hill Cumorah Visitors’ Center in Palmyra, New York. Gratefully, no injuries have been reported. At this hour, there is little information available. Inquiries about details should be directed to local law enforcement."