Groom-to-be accidentally shoots and kills best man on skunk hunting trip, AZ cops say
A groom-to-be accidentally shot his best man to death after the two went skunk hunting, Arizona deputies said.
The shooting happened July 26 at the UCYC Camp in Prescott, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
The two had gone to a remote part of the camp to shoot and hunt for skunks, deputies said.
They returned from shooting after sunset and were trying to make sure the guns were unloaded, deputies said.
One of the men pointed his gun at his 22-year-old friend, pulled the charging handle multiple times and then pulled the trigger when he thought the magazine was empty, deputies said.
But the gun fired at his friend and hit him in the abdomen, deputies said.
He was taken to a hospital in Prescott, where he was “initially stabilized,” deputies said. The man then had complications as he was flown to a Phoenix hospital.
Deputies said he died the next day after surgery.
No charges have been filed, but the case is under investigation, deputies said.
Prescott is about a 100-mile drive northwest from Phoenix.
How to handle a gun safely
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office is reminding the public about gun safety.
Anyone holding a gun should point the muzzle in a safe direction and treat every gun as if it is loaded, authorities recommend.
Deputies said your finger should not be on the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
And lastly, deputies said to “be sure of your target and what’s around and behind your target.”
This story was originally published August 5, 2024 at 1:38 PM with the headline "Groom-to-be accidentally shoots and kills best man on skunk hunting trip, AZ cops say."
