Roy Roach (2005 file photograph) Tragedy struck St. Ignace just before midnight Tuesday, October 28, when 19-year-old Seth Tamlyn was fatally shot at an apartment on US-2 in Moran Township.

Twenty-one-year-old Roy Roach of St. Ignace, who was said to be a good friend of Mr. Tamlyn, allegedly shot Mr. Tamlyn shortly after Mr. Tamlyn arrived at another friend's apartment, where Mr. Roach was visiting, as well. Four people witnessed the incident.

Mr. Tamlyn suffered a gunshot wound to the back of his head from a .20-gauge shotgun. Only one shot was fired. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was physically injured.

Police or Mackinac County Prosecuting Attorney Fred Feleppa would not comment on whether the shooting was accidental or intentional, or whether alcohol was a contributing factor in the incident.

Mr. Roach was arraigned Wednesday afternoon, October 29, in Mackinac County's 92nd District Court on three charges: Second degree murder, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison; voluntary manslaughter, which carries a maximum of up to 15 years in prison, and felonious use of a firearm, which is an automatic two years in prison when a deadly weapon is used in a crime.

Mr. Feleppa said he is presenting two kinds of homicide, if the case goes to trial, to allow the jury to hear all theories of what may have transpired that night.

Information on who owned the gun is not being released at this time, as the case remains under investigation by Michigan State Police.

Mr. Roach, who worked as a seasonal dray driver for Mackinac Island Service Company for the past three years and is a 2005 LaSalle High School graduate, is being held at Mackinac County Jail on a $1 million bond.

A preliminary examination is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 5, at Mackinac County Court House, although attorney Michael Hackett of Mount Pleasant, who is representing Mr. Roach, has the opportunity to request an extension before presenting his case, according to 92nd District Court.

Mr. Tamlyn is the son of Joanne Kompsi of Mackinac Island and Steve Tamlyn of St. Ignace, and a 2007 graduate of LaSalle High School. He was employed as a painter with St. Onge Latex and Groove on Mackinac Island this summer and worked part-time for the City of St. Ignace at Silver Mountain Ski Hill each winter since 2006, and also was employed by Ryba Marine Construction.

Mr. Tamlyn's obituary is printed on page 9 of this issue.