SAGINAW, MI — A former military man is to spend the next few months in jail for accidentally shooting his pregnant wife and himself in their Thomas Township home.
While his wife pleaded for leniency, the judge felt incarceration was necessary, especially as it was not the first time the man had mishandled a gun and shot himself.
Cameron H. Zuzula, 32, on Monday, Sept. 9, appeared before Saginaw County Circuit Judge Manvel Trice III for sentencing, having pleaded guilty to careless discharge of a firearm causing injury or death in June. The charge is a high court misdemeanor punishable by up to two years’ incarceration and a $2,000 fine.
Defense attorney Russell J. Perry asked the judge to give Zuzula the lowest possible sentence, saying he has already suffered consequences from the May 2022 shooting. At the time, both Zuzula and his wife were in the U.S. Army National Guard and experts in firearms, with Zuzula a combat engineer.
Zuzula had hoped to have a career in the military, but the incident has negated that, Perry said.
Speaking for himself, Zuzula said his actions have weighed heavily on him.
“Losing my career and benefit package for retirement, it has affected me greatly,” he said. “I do understand where everything is coming from today. I am here in good heart.”
His wife, Lyndsay Zuzula, addressed the court in her husband’s defense, saying she depends on him to support their three children.
“My husband is the most amazing man I’ve met in my whole life,” she said. “Something did happen, yes, and I know he is so sorry. That happening to me is punishment enough for him. I depend on him, and I love him more than anything. If worse comes to worst… I’m at my wits’ end at what I’m supposed to do going forward. There’s no one I appreciate or love more than him.”
Saginaw County Assistant Prosecutor Daniel G. Van Norman said he didn’t dispute Cameron Zuzula was a good guy or a great husband, but that didn’t take away from what occurred.
Police responded to the Zuzulas’ home in the 100 block of East Stark Road the evening of May 24, 2022. Cameron Zuzula’s mother had called 911 after her son called her to say he had accidentally shot his wife.
Police arrived to find Cameron Zuzula rendering aid to his wife and applying a blood-clotting substance to her abdominal wound. Cameron Zuzula repeatedly told police he had been playing with a new handgun in his kitchen and was field stripping it when he pulled its trigger. Cameron Zuzula said he had thought the gun was unloaded.
The bullet took a finger off Cameron Zuzula’s left hand before striking his wife in her upper abdomen. The fetus survived the shooting.
Lyndsay Zuzula bought her husband the Glock 48 9mm the previous day as a birthday present.
Van Norman reminded Judge Trice this was the second time Cameron Zuzula shot himself in his hand, having previously done so in January 2016 in Crawford County’s Grayling Township. Cameron Zuzula was charged with careless or reckless discharge of a firearm, received a delayed sentence and the charge was subsequently dismissed.
Trice concluded a jail term was warranted after Cameron Zuzula’s previous accidental shooting didn’t instill him with a new sense of firearm safety.
He ordered Cameron Zuzula to serve six months in jail, the first four months of which he is to serve straight up. Cameron Zuzula will be allowed to serve the last two months on weekends. He is also to be on probation for two years, during which he is not to possess any firearms.
Trice gave Cameron Zuzula credit for 77 days already served. As the judge remanded Cameron Zuzula to begin serving his sentence, Lyndsay Zuzula wept in the courtroom gallery.
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