SUGAR GROVE, Ohio -- A hunter is in custody after a fellow hunter
was shot in the neck Friday.
The victim, Leonard Wisner, 38, of Washington, Pa., was shot around
10:30 a.m. in woods near Knoxville, Jefferson County.
Donald Myler, 34, of Ohio, was taken into custody in connection
with the shooting. According to Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla,
Myler pleaded guilty to aggravated arson in 2001. Because he is a
convicted felon, he is not legally permitted to carry a weapon.
Wisner was hunting with several men from the Youngstown area at the
time of the shooting. The other men said they did not know Weisner
until they met up with him earlier on Friday.
Wisner was transported to Trinity Medical Center then airlifted to
a Pittsburgh hospital. As of 4:15 p.m., he was in surgery in critical
condition.
The suspect is being held on several charges, according to
officials with the Department of Natural Resources. Officials did not
elaborate on the type of charges.
Jason Hadsell, Ohio DNR wildlife officer, said the shooting remains
under investigation and would not say if he believed it was
intentional.
"We have several investigators out here right now searching the
area for evidence looking for clues to this puzzle," Hadsell said.
So far this hunting season, there has been one fatality in Ohio. A
Coshocton man accidentally shot himself in the leg and died from his
injuries.
Stay with NEWS9 and WTOV9.com for continuing coverage.
-Renee Cardelli & Jackie Cain, NEWS9
