N.C. Hunter Killed By 12-year-Old Boy

[Skywatch_NC]

N.C. Hunter Killed By 12-year-Old Boy

POSTED: 11:46 am EST December 31, 2005
UPDATED: 11:46 am EST December 31, 2005

LEXINGTON, N.C. -- A 12-year-old boy with a rifle, encouraged by his grandfather, shot and killed a hunter whom they thought was a deer, officials said.

Prosecutors must decide whether to press charges in the death of Douglas Wayne Murdock, 28, of Thomasville, who was pronounced dead at the scene Wednesday.

Murdock was hunting just before 10 a.m. in a shooting lane in Randolph County when he was shot, said Capt. Chris Huebner, the hunting and boating safety coordinator with the N.C. Wildlife Commission.

The boy and his grandfather, who also were hunting, were riding a four-wheeler through the area when the grandfather thought he saw a deer and told his grandson to shoot.

Murdock, who was wearing a blaze-orange vest and abiding by all hunting regulations, was shot once in the upper chest with a scope rifle, Huebner said.

"He basically was just sitting there in a shooting lane, minding his own business when he got shot," Huebner said. "The worst part is that with a scope rifle (the boy) should have been able to tell that it's not an animal. Definitely, with a blaze-orange vest, he should have been able to tell."

Murdock had attended a hunting-safety course, Huebner said.

The boy had also taken a hunting-safety course and his grandfather had a hunting license, said Gale Wilson, a wildlife enforcement officer investigating the shooting. State law allows children under 16 who have taken the course to hunt under the supervision of a properly licensed adult.

Wilson added that the boy, his grandfather and Murdock were members of the same hunting club.

The boy's name is not being released, pending a decision by the Randolph County district attorney on whether to press charges.

The Randolph County Sheriff's Office is also participating in the investigation, which Wilson said he expects to be completed by the end of next week.

http://www.wral.com/news/5723625/detail.html

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press.

[arkess7]

how awful!!!!

[Terrell]

"He basically was just sitting there in a shooting lane, minding his own business when he got shot," Huebner said. "The worst part is that with a scope rifle (the boy) should have been able to tell that it's not an animal. Definitely, with a blaze-orange vest, he should have been able to tell."

I do think some investigation needs to be done and perhaps charges should be filed in this instance. Especially should the quoted statement be true.

Nice avatar arkess7. (I love tigers)

[Tstormwatcher]

Charges should be filed against his grandfather, telling the kid to shoot without identifiying the target.

[Skywatch_NC]

Charges should be filed against his grandfather, telling the kid to shoot without identifiying the target.

I agree. One would think that a hunting-safety course would cover about if one is NOT sure whether it's game or another human keep that safety ON and the gun pointed down to the ground. The grandfather must have missed that part obviously.

Prayers and thoughts to Mr. Murdock's family and friends.

[DaylilyDawn]

A long time ago my husband went hunting for doves with his younger brother and when he got home he told his brother he would not go hunting with him again because he could have killed my husband if his gun had gone off if he stumbled. The gun was loaded and pointed at my hubby as they were stepping over a fence line. Now my hubby no longer goes hunting. The grandfather should face charges since he did not make certain it was a deer and not a human when he told the grandson to fire.

[Skywatch_NC]

A long time ago my husband went hunting for doves with his younger brother and when he got home he told his brother he would not go hunting with him again because he could have killed my husband if his gun had gone off if he stumbled. The gun was loaded and pointed at my hubby as they were stepping over a fence line. Now my hubby no longer goes hunting. The grandfather should face charges since he did not make certain it was a deer and not a human when he told the grandson to fire.

Did your husband's brother never have on his gun safety device whenever they would be walking during the hunt?

[DaylilyDawn]

Skywatch, my husband had told him to put the safety on but the brother didn't get it on before they started stepping over the fenceline. That is why he will not go hunting with his brother ever again.

[Skywatch_NC]

Skywatch, my husband had told him to put the safety on but the brother didn't get it on before they started stepping over the fenceline. That is why he will not go hunting with his brother ever again.

I see.

Makes you wonder if his brother ever participated in a state-approved hunting safety course?