13-year-old killed in hunting accident, South Carolina officials say
A 13-year-old boy was killed in a hunting accident in the Midlands, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
The teenager died Sunday afternoon in Orangeburg County, SCDNR said on social media.
The Orangeburg County Coroner’s Office has not publicly identified the child.
Officers learned that the boy and a friend were squirrel hunting on private property when one shot the other, according to SCDNR.
The death is being investigated by SCDNR.
Further information about where and when the shooting happened was not available.
“Our thoughts are with the boy’s family and loved ones,” SCDNR said in the social media post.
From 2009 to 2023, there were 37 fatal incidents involving hunters in South Carolina, DNR data shows.
More recently, from 2020 through 2022, there were three fatal hunting incidents in South Carolina involving a gun, according to DNR. Of the 56 fatal and non-fatal hunting incidents involving a firearm over that same time frame, 25 involved shooters who were between 10 and 20 years old, data shows.
Ten Commandments of Firearm Safety
1. Watch that muzzle! Keep it pointed in a safe direction at all times.
2. Treat every firearm with the respect due a loaded gun. It might be, even if you think it isn’t.
3. Be sure of the target and what is in front of it and beyond it. Know the identifying features of the game you hunt. Make sure you have an adequate backstop — don’t shoot at a flat, hard surface or water.
4. Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot. This is the best way to prevent an accidental discharge.
5. Check your barrel and ammunition. Make sure the barrel and action are clear of obstructions, and carry only the proper ammunition for your firearm.
6. Unload firearms when not in use. Leave actions open, and carry firearms in cases and unloaded to and from the shooting area.
7. Point a firearm only at something you intend to shoot. Avoid all horseplay with a gun.
8. Don’t run, jump, or climb with a loaded firearm. Unload a firearm before you climb a fence or tree, or jump a ditch. Pull a firearm toward you by the butt, not the muzzle.
9. Store firearms and ammunition separately and safely. Store each in secured locations beyond the reach of children and careless adults.
10. Avoid alcoholic beverages before and during shooting. Also avoid mind- or behavior-altering medicines or drugs.
SOURCE: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
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This story was originally published January 22, 2024 at 10:28 AM.
