AL: Teen Hunter Shot

December 18, 2009

Baldwin Teen Hunter Shot By Pat Peterson Reporter

A 15-year old Baldwin County boy will spend his Christmas break recovering from gunshot wounds. Sheriff's deputies say Tanner Boatwright was accidentally shot while deer hunting with friends Thursday along County Road 61 near Perdido.

"They were doing a deer drive and got separated and a deer stepped out in front of one of the hunters and at least one, possibly both other hunters shot at the deer and two pellets struck the victim," says Major Anthony Lowery with the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office.

Boatwright was shot twice in the back with buckshot pellets.

At this point, the shooting has been ruled an accident but investigators will present the case to a Baldwin County grand jury.

"Early indications are they were wearing hunter orange, it's an accident, but we'll follow up to make sure no laws were violated," says Lowery. "Kids are going to be out of school for two weeks and there's going to be a lot of people in the woods, a lot of inexperienced hunters in the woods, there's no such thing as wearing hunter orange. Be safe, if you don't know what you're shooting at, don't shoot at it."

Investigators say Boatwright's injuries are not life-threatening.

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