November 12, 2011
By Jeff Duke, Al.com
MOBILE, Alabama -- Lauderdale County teenager is facing multiple
charges after accidentally shooting another Lauderdale County teen
last week.
District 1 enforcement officer Lt. Darryl Askew said Jarrod Cole,
19, of Florence mistook Mathew Bassie, 19, of Waterloo for a coyote
at dusk Tuesday and shot him with a 12-gauge shotgun at about 35
steps when Bassie stepped into a power line right-of-way.
Thirteen of the 24 pellets that hit Bassie entered his body,
Askew said.
Cole performed first aid, then transported Bassie to meet paramedics
en route to the hospital. Askew said Bassie's injuries did not
appear to be life-threatening on Wednesday.
Askew said Cole was hunting on a small parcel of private land in
Lauderdale County on Tuesday when he heard something approaching the
power line.
Bassie, who was leaving the woods after bow hunting on a larger
piece of private property, had taken a shortcut to the power line
that was just inside the private property line where Cole was
hunting.
Askew said Cole is facing misdemeanor hunting-related charges
because he had not completed state-mandated hunter education
training and did not have a hunting license required of anyone 16 or
older.
Askew added that pending the Lauderdale County district
attorney's decision, Cole could also face criminal negligence
charges related to the shooting.
District 1 supervising enforcement officer Cpt. Johnny Johnson
said Bassie could also face trespassing charges once the
investigation is complete.
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