Hunting trip ends in accidental death

Posted by crimeblog

Posted: May 12, 2008 - 5:20 pm

A 16-year-old boy on a hunting trip in Petersburg died after he slipped on some ice and caused his rifle to accidentally fire a shot into his head, according to Alaska State Troopers.

The boy, who was not immediately identified, was reported shot at 4:40 p.m. Sunday, when Petersburg police called troopers to say the accident had occurred while he and a 17-year-old boy were hunting grouse along Dry Straits Road, about 28 miles out of Petersburg, troopers said.

Troopers from Juneau responded and found that the boy had slipped on the ice and his .22-caliber rifle discharged a single shot into his head while they were walking, troopers said.

The older boy ran to get help from three fishermen who were about a mile away. The boy's body was loaded into a truck and taken to Petersburg, though on the way an ambulance met them and completed the trip to Petersburg Medical Center.

The boy was pronounced dead at the hospital. Troopers say they do not suspect foul play.

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