MAYVILLE, N.Y. -- The case of a Chautauqua County hunter charged in a shooting accident that killed his neighbor has been dropped.
2 On Your Side confirmed with Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson that the manslaughter charge against Thomas Jadlowski, 34, of Sherman was dismissed.
According to the Chautauqua County District Attorney's Office, Jadlowski shot and killed 43-year-old Rose Jafarjian Billquist after misidentifying her as a deer on Nov. 22.
Wednesday, a judge dropped the charges. He took issue with how the D.A. gave instructions to grand jury members when they had questions. They wanted to know if there was a lesser charge that could be applied in this case.
Rose's husband, Jamie, spoke with the D.A. Thursday morning before this news broke. He says the D.A. told him he plans on re-presenting the case to the grand jury.
"It's not like he's just going to walk away, and it's over, and he got off on all charges. It's not that. He reassured me that they're working on it. They're going to go back in, and he just told me that everything's going to be good, no worries. Things are going to be good, and we will get justice," says Jamie Billquist.
Jamie Billquist wants to thank the hundreds of people who have offered support in person and on social media. He's busy planning two memorial runs to honor his wife late this spring. One will be held on June 3, and the other will be June 9.
"She was just vibrant, and caring, and kind, and never angry, and lifted up everybody's spirits, and just she was an awesome person," says Jamie Billquist. "I miss her every second of the day because were together for 27 years. She was not only my wife, but my best friend."
Swanson says Judge David Foley's decision was based on a legal technicality that he does not agree with. While appealing the decision is an option, Swanson says that process can take months, with no guarantee the outcome would be any different. He said he's leaning towards re-presenting the case to a grand jury and expects to make that decision by the end of the week.
Jadlowski remains free on bail.