OH: Hunter from LaGrange killed by a stray shot
Cindy Leise | The Chronicle-Telegram
December 24, 2008
A LaGrange man deer hunting in southeastern Ohio on Sunday was
killed, apparently by a stray shot fired by a 13-year-old girl who also
was hunting, according to Guernsey County Corner Janet Brockwell.
Charles Lee “Chuck” Michael, 41, was shot in the neck at about 7:30
a.m., Brockwell said.
The girl, who was hunting with two adults, including her grandfather,
probably fired the shot from 100 to 200 feet away, Brockwell said.
The group did not realize anything was wrong and continued hunting,
she said, and Michael’s body was found later that morning.
“It will be ruled an accident,” Brockwell said. “I believe he died
instantly.”
The shot came from a 20-gauge shotgun with a deer barrel, she said.
The accident occurred in a heavily-wooded area, she said.
She said Michael had permission to hunt on the property and had
probably gotten out very early that morning.
He was in a tree stand that provides support similar to a recliner,
she said. The tree stand had not yet been raised into a tree, Brockwell
said. She said his head would have been about the same level as if he
had been standing.
When the shot was fired, it would have still been pretty dark
outside, Brockwell said.
The office of Guernsey County Sheriff Michael McCauley and Ohio
Division of Wildlife Officer Roby Williams are investigating, Brockwell
said. McCauley and Williams were unavailable for comment Tuesday.
Michael, a 1985 graduate of Midview High School, was a U.S. Air Force
veteran. He is survived by his wife, Shannon, and a son, Thomas Lloyd
Sullivan, both of LaGrange, and a brother, Benjamin M. of Elyria.
