NY: Hunter shot in head, neck, shoulder, chest and abdomen

May 12, 2010

An East Syracuse man was injured, reportedly by a hunting partner, in an early morning shooting accident Wednesday in the Steuben County town of Canisteo.

Charles D. Sargent, 54, was struck by shotgun pellets in the left side of his head, neck, shoulder, chest and abdomen, according to the Steuben County Sheriff's Office.

Sargent was hit by a shotgun blast fired by Anthony Gabriele, 53, of Youngstown, N.Y., deputies said.

The accident happened around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday in a remote area off Hulbert Road.

The two men had entered the area together and set up a decoy to attract male turkeys, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

The two hunters, both dressed in full camouflage, split up to observe the area. After an hour or so, they worked back closer to each other than either realized, deputies said.

Gabrielle was using a mouth call and a slate call when he saw what he thought was a tom turkey about 70 feet away and fired, according to the sheriff's office.

Once Gabrielle realized he had shot his partner, he used his cell phone to dial 911.

Sargent was transported to St. James Hospital in Hornell and later transferred to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, where he is listed in stable condition.

The sheriff's office and state Department of Environmental Conservation are investigating the shooting. Sheriff's deputies were assisted at the scene by the Canisteo Fire Department and Hornell Ambulance.

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