Topline: A Bay City man now faces a murder charge after prosecutors said a January family confrontation ended with his father being fatally shot.
Published: August 14, 2026 11:34 am ET
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Kyle Gontko, left, and Shane Gontko (via Bay County Jail / GoFundMe)
BAY CITY, MI — Kyle Gontko has now been charged with murder in the January shooting death of his father, Shane Gontko, after a Bay County court hearing advanced the case months after the killing outside a Center Avenue apartment building.
Shane Gontko, 39, of Essexville, was shot on the night of Jan. 7 and died at a hospital on Jan. 10, according to earlier reporting on the case. Authorities said the shooting happened after an altercation, and three of the victim’s sons were arrested in the aftermath.
According to reporting from MLive and earlier case details published by WNEM, the defense argued Kyle Gontko acted to protect himself from his heavily intoxicated father, while prosecutors alleged he told police he struck his father with a handgun and the weapon fired.
Earlier Bay County court records showed Kyle Gontko had initially been charged with assault with intent to commit murder, felony-firearm, false report of a felony and assault with a dangerous weapon before the case moved forward on the homicide count. WNEM also reported that brother Nathen Gontko was separately charged with discharging a weapon at a building, false report of a felony, felony-firearm and possessing a firearm while under the influence.
A younger sibling, 15 at the time, was also the subject of a petition alleging accessory-after-the-fact and felony-firearm offenses, according to WNEM. The case now centers on whether jurors ultimately accept the defense claim that Kyle Gontko was protecting himself or the prosecution’s version that the confrontation ended in a criminal killing.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Bay City Man Charged With Murder in Father’s January Shooting Death
A Bay City man now faces a murder charge after prosecutors said a January family confrontation ended with his father being fatally shot.
By Silvia Torres
Published: August 14, 2026 11:34 am ET
Kyle Gontko, left, and Shane Gontko (via Bay County Jail / GoFundMe)
BAY CITY, MI — Kyle Gontko has now been charged with murder in the January shooting death of his father, Shane Gontko, after a Bay County court hearing advanced the case months after the killing outside a Center Avenue apartment building.
Shane Gontko, 39, of Essexville, was shot on the night of Jan. 7 and died at a hospital on Jan. 10, according to earlier reporting on the case. Authorities said the shooting happened after an altercation, and three of the victim’s sons were arrested in the aftermath.
According to reporting from MLive and earlier case details published by WNEM, the defense argued Kyle Gontko acted to protect himself from his heavily intoxicated father, while prosecutors alleged he told police he struck his father with a handgun and the weapon fired.
Earlier Bay County court records showed Kyle Gontko had initially been charged with assault with intent to commit murder, felony-firearm, false report of a felony and assault with a dangerous weapon before the case moved forward on the homicide count. WNEM also reported that brother Nathen Gontko was separately charged with discharging a weapon at a building, false report of a felony, felony-firearm and possessing a firearm while under the influence.
A younger sibling, 15 at the time, was also the subject of a petition alleging accessory-after-the-fact and felony-firearm offenses, according to WNEM. The case now centers on whether jurors ultimately accept the defense claim that Kyle Gontko was protecting himself or the prosecution’s version that the confrontation ended in a criminal killing.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Bay City Man Charged With Murder in Father’s January Shooting Death
A Bay City man now faces a murder charge after prosecutors said a January family confrontation ended with his father being fatally shot.
By Silvia Torres
Published: August 14, 2026 11:34 am ET
Kyle Gontko, left, and Shane Gontko (via Bay County Jail / GoFundMe)
BAY CITY, MI — Kyle Gontko has now been charged with murder in the January shooting death of his father, Shane Gontko, after a Bay County court hearing advanced the case months after the killing outside a Center Avenue apartment building.
Shane Gontko, 39, of Essexville, was shot on the night of Jan. 7 and died at a hospital on Jan. 10, according to earlier reporting on the case. Authorities said the shooting happened after an altercation, and three of the victim’s sons were arrested in the aftermath.
According to reporting from MLive and earlier case details published by WNEM, the defense argued Kyle Gontko acted to protect himself from his heavily intoxicated father, while prosecutors alleged he told police he struck his father with a handgun and the weapon fired.
Earlier Bay County court records showed Kyle Gontko had initially been charged with assault with intent to commit murder, felony-firearm, false report of a felony and assault with a dangerous weapon before the case moved forward on the homicide count. WNEM also reported that brother Nathen Gontko was separately charged with discharging a weapon at a building, false report of a felony, felony-firearm and possessing a firearm while under the influence.
A younger sibling, 15 at the time, was also the subject of a petition alleging accessory-after-the-fact and felony-firearm offenses, according to WNEM. The case now centers on whether jurors ultimately accept the defense claim that Kyle Gontko was protecting himself or the prosecution’s version that the confrontation ended in a criminal killing.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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