What charges has Cory Cumings, the Mitchell businessman, faced?

Cory Cumings, the Mitchell businessman, has been charged with two counts of possession of a firearm by a person with a prior felony drug conviction and one count of child abuse following a viral video showing him yelling at his 12-year-old son during a pheasant hunt.

What was the content of the viral video involving Cory Cumings and his son?

The viral video, originally posted by Cumings on Snapchat, shows him repeatedly yelling at his 12-year-old son to fire a shotgun, using profanity, calling him names, and at one point threatening to leave without him.

What other legal issues is Cory Cumings facing?

In addition to the charges related to the viral video, Cory Cumings is also facing a separate federal case in U.S. District Court, where he is accused of unlawfully possessing more than 100 firearms and ammunition in December 2023.

Home / Crime and Justice / Businessman Charged After Viral Video of Abusive Pheasant Hunt

Businessman Charged After Viral Video of Abusive Pheasant Hunt

31 Oct

•

Summary

Businessman Cory Cumings charged with firearm and child abuse offenses
Viral video shows him yelling at 12-year-old son during pheasant hunt
Cumings also faces federal charges for unlawful firearm possession

Businessman Charged After Viral Video of Abusive Pheasant Hunt

On October 29, 2025, charges were filed against Mitchell, South Dakota businessman Cory Cumings following a viral video that showed him yelling at his 12-year-old son during the pheasant hunting season opener weekend. The Aurora County indictment includes two counts of possession of a firearm by a person with a prior felony drug conviction, as well as one count of child abuse.

The video, which Cumings had originally posted on Snapchat, depicts him repeatedly using profanity and threatening to leave his son behind while pressuring the child to fire a shotgun. Cumings later claimed the post was a deliberate "rage baiting" attempt to provoke emotional reactions online. However, the video quickly went viral after a viewer shared it on Facebook, leading to numerous calls to local law enforcement.