Sentenced: WV Hunter Shot Boy 'After Mistaking Him For A Wild Turkey’

[Sugar Cookie]

A hunter shot a seven year-old boy after mistaking him for a wild turkey, police say. The youngster and his adult brother were both struck on Tuesday while they themselves were hunting at Camp Creek State Park in West Virginia.

Both were shot when a third turkey hunter, who was not part of their party, fired ‘at something he could not clearly see,’ after believing the victims’ movement was that of a wild bird, according to Officer GW Wood of the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources.

The youngster was life-flighted by helicopter to the Charleston Area Medical Center for surgery to internal injuries. His condition was listed as stable on Thursday, with police yet to release his or his brother’s name. An update on the older sibling’s condition has not been shared, although he is believed to have been less seriously injured.

Mercer County Sheriff’s Office are currently investigating the shooting and deciding whether to press charges. The Bluefield Daily Telegraph reported that these will be dependent on the severity of the injuries ultimately suffered by the seven year-old.

Hunter shot, boy, 7 'after mistaking him for wild turkey'

The youngster was blasted by a bullet after being mistaken for one of the birds during a hunt on Tuesday

metro.co.uk

 

[Brillig]

Who's the wild turkey now?!?

 

[Satanica]

Deciding whether to press charges?!? Isn't not shooting at anything you can't clearly identify as prey the cardinal rule of hunting? I'd at least take that idiot's hunting license away forever and make him give talks about hunting safety.

 

[Keepalowprofile]

They absolutely should press charges. He should lose his right to own guns.

The very first basic thing you learn is not to shoot at something you cant see. Even on your own private land. But the most incredibly stupid part, this happened at

hunting at Camp Creek State Park in West Virginia.

 

[Metalfan]

Who's the wild turkey now?!?

And the bourbon sucks to

 

[Siobhan]

Da fuque?
West Virginia is full of shoulda been Darwin winners 'accidentally' taking out people who'd otherwise be safe in nearly every other state.
How does one "mistake" a 7 year old human child for a bird that's barely over 2 feet tall, and is usually walking on the ground?
Was this a private hunting area that allows off season hunting all year round, as I'm fairly certain that wild turkey season is over throughout the US at this time?

 

[Metalfan]

Da fuque?
West Virginia is full of shoulda been Darwin winners 'accidentally' taking out people who'd otherwise be safe in nearly every other state.
How does one "mistake" a 7 year old human child for a bird that's barely over 2 feet tall, and is usually walking on the ground?
Was this a private hunting area that allows off season hunting all year round, as I'm fairly certain that wild turkey season is over throughout the US at this time?

Didnt the movie Deliverance take place in west Virginia

 

[Satanica]

Da fuque?
West Virginia is full of shoulda been Darwin winners 'accidentally' taking out people who'd otherwise be safe in nearly every other state.
How does one "mistake" a 7 year old human child for a bird that's barely over 2 feet tall, and is usually walking on the ground?
Was this a private hunting area that allows off season hunting all year round, as I'm fairly certain that wild turkey season is over throughout the US at this time?

The youngster and his adult brother were both struck on Tuesday while they themselves were hunting at Camp Creek State Park in West Virginia.

That doesn't necessarily mean the shooter was in the State Park, I suppose.

 

[Freyja]

Didnt the movie Deliverance take place in west Virginia

No, that movie was filmed in Tallulah Gorge in Georgia.

 

[Craygor]

Isn't not shooting at anything you can't clearly identify as prey the cardinal rule of hunting?

Yes it is. I learned that back in my 3rd grade hunter safety course, which this idiot didn't take. Probably because, even in West Virginia, self-styled "progressive" knuckleheads forced that program out of the schools, because "guns are evil".

 

[Metalfan]

No, that movie was filmed in Tallulah Gorge in Georgia.

Must have thinking about another movie,touche though

 

[Freyja]

1.) Treat all firearms as if they are loaded.
2.) Never point a firearm at something you don't want to shoot.
3.) Keep your finger off the trigger until you have acquired your target.
4.) Consider what is the backstop beyond your target.
5.) Know what the fuck you are firing at!
6.) A 7-year -old boy is NOT a wild turkey.
7.) Firearms and alcohol do not mix!
8.) Neither do firearms and drugs, for that matter!

 

[Sejanus]

Am out huntin'.
Can't clearly see a target.
Oh well, best shoot in case it's somethin' worth killin'.

Dumb fuk.

 

[Siobhan]

Didnt the movie Deliverance take place in west Virginia

Georgia
[automerge]1588628768[/automerge]

No, that movie was filmed in Tallulah Gorge in Georgia.

Thank you for the exact location.

IIRC, in the film, they finally made it to a fictional town of "Aintry" for medical attention.

 

[DaveL]

It's hard to imagine what sort of human activity could be more dangerous than just sitting around, shooting at any sign of movement. I mean, even an Ebola Orgy would probably avoid hurting non-consenting bystanders. Maybe Fuel Tanker Wrong Way Interstate Crash-Up Derby?

 

[Alf]

It's hard to imagine what sort of human activity could be more dangerous than just sitting around, shooting at any sign of movement.

In the spring, tom turkeys are only interested in feeding, fighting, fleeing, and making babies. That last factor is what makes them so susceptible to the call. Start talking like a lovelorn but bashful lady turkey, and that ol' tom will either find himself a willing hen or come on the run to show her what a magnificent specimen he truly is. And if he hears another tom gobbling near the hen, that'll induce him to come that much quicker.

That turkey talk can also attract a still hunter, who draws an azimuth to the gobbling turkey then stalks it by sound. Ideally, the still hunter will lay eyes on the bird before firing at it. I suspect the brothers were calling and the other guy was stalking, and the other guy didn't make damn sure he wasn't stalking a human who was using a turkey call. And the motion he saw, that had him convinced he was all but standing on the turkey's tail? Probably one of the brothers scratching a slate call with a striker or shaking a box call.

--Al

 

[Ramona the brave]

Deciding whether to press charges?!? Isn't not shooting at anything you can't clearly identify as prey the cardinal rule of hunting? I'd at least take that idiot's hunting license away forever and make him give talks about hunting safety.

Right!? Why should pressing charges be contingent on the severity of the boy's injuries? A first grader got shot, ffs! If he makes a full recovery, that doesn't mean the shooter is innocent. Just means he's lucky.

 

[cubby]

I'm sure there was a bit too much wild turkey in his back pocket or in his gullet while hunting.

There should be no way to spin this as an accident, shooting anything that not what you're hunting is not an accident, it's a idiot with a gun firing at every noise whether he can tell what's making the noise or not.

Drop him in the woods and fire at him every time he he makes a noise, won't need to do that for very long. He will not want to go hunting again.

 

[Craygor]

A hunter shot a seven year-old boy after mistaking him for a wild turkey

Even if what he is saying is true, its only legal to hunt bearded-only turkeys this time of year anyways.

West Virginia Turkey Seasons

Fall General Season	Oct. 12-19
Spring General Season, Bearded Only	Apr. 20-May 16, 2020
Spring Youth Season	Apr. 18-19, 2020

Do you know how fucking clear that idiot was required to see his target to ensure that not only was he shooting at a turkey, but a non-juvenile male turkey?

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Troy Ellis

 

[roadsidehorror]

So much for a visual confirmation of your target before you pull the trigger.

 

[GoneWest]

View attachment 35231
Troy Ellis

That’s a really old looking 7 year old. No baby teeth-and grown up teeth already in and looking good. Most 7 year olds have goofy Teeth and smiles...part of their adorableness

 

[GoneWest]

That’s a really old looking 7 year old. No baby teeth-and grown up teeth already in and looking good. Most 7 year olds have goofy Teeth and smiles...part of their adorableness

Replying to my own text, because have since read the boy was apparently 11 not 7.
Also was hunting with his father not his older brother.

 

[caitierig]

Was he not wearing his blaze orange? How does this happen with an experienced hunter??

 

[Inferus]

And the bourbon sucks to

But clearly was involved, just not as the target.

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Capital murder charges have been filed against Joshua Stewart Burks of Mobile in connection to the shooting death of 11-year-old Troy Ellis of Trussville. The shooting occurred May 1, and Burks was initially charged with manslaughter in the incident.

Troy was killed during a turkey hunting excursion with his father, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. The incident occurred near Cedar Mountain Road.

A review of evidence in the case resulted in the reckless manslaughter charges being upgraded to capital murder.

Capital Murder Charges Filed In Death Of Trussville Child

 

[Sugar Cookie]

The father of an 11-year-old boy killed during a turkey hunt organized for a disabled veteran nearly two years ago on Tuesday gave an emotional account of the final moments of his young son’s life.

Troy Ellis, then a fifth grader in Trussville, Alabama, was killed May 1, 2020, on his father’s hunting land in eastern Jefferson County.

Joshua Stewart Burks, a 37-year-old former U.S. Marine who is an amputee, teacher and coach in south Alabama, is charged with reckless manslaughter in Troy’s death.

A grand jury at one point upped the charge against Burks to capital murder but it was later reduced again to reckless manslaughter.

Testimony began in Jefferson County Circuit Judge Clyde Jones’ courtroom on Tuesday.

Prosecutors contend that Burks recklessly caused Troy’s death. They boy suffered 30 pellet wounds to his face and neck. His father was wounded in the knee.

Burks, Danneman said in opening statements, disregarded every safety instruction he was given. “You will not hear that he was shooting at a real bird,” the prosecutor said. “He mistook Troy Ellis, an 11-year-old boy, for a turkey.”

Burks’ attorneys, however, contend it was a tragic accident that should not have yielded criminal charges.

“They’re asking you to criminalize this tragic and preventable accident,” Phillips said. “We’re asking you to come to the decision, ‘Was Troy Ellis killed by a criminal act?’ We think the truth will rule the day.”

The Ellis family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Burks, Henley and AHEROES. Among the suit’s claims is that Burks had taken numerous pain pills the night before and the morning of the hunt and was “likely not capable of safely handling a firearm and certainly was not capable of making appropriate decisions with regard to handling a weapon.” That case was settled in October.



After his death, the family launched The Troy Ellis Foundation, a nonprofit organization that reaches out to the youth athletes in the surrounding communities to better the facilities, athletic programs, equipment and lessen the cost for the community and/or parents.



Ellis described his son as an “old soul” and said they’d been hunting together since he was a young boy. Troy was excited about the hunt with Burks because he thought he was serving his country by helping a disabled veteran.



The group was set up in a triangle position. A turkey decoy was at the point, with Ellis and Troy off to the left side and Burks and Henley off to the right. The two pairs were about 65 feet away from each other.

Trial begins for disabled Marine prosecutors say ‘mistook’ child for turkey in fatal Alabama hunt

An 11-year-old boy was killed May 1, 2020, when he was fatally shot by a U.S. Marine during a turkey hunt for disabled veterans.

www.pennlive.com

 

[Victoria]

 

[Satanica]

Yes, you can clearly see how much alike they look. I'm sure they were following safety rules such as orange hats or vests, so this disabled veteran must've been really lit on those prescriptions. I feel so bad for dad.

 

[CRWX]

Wow, this really went off the rails somewhere. It started off with a 7yo victim of a hunting accident in WV and somehow ended up about an 11yo victim in AL.