PERQUIMANS COUNTY, N.C. (WAVY) – A 15-year-old has died following a hunting accident Friday morning in Perquimans County.
According to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission Lieutenant John Beardsley, the call for the accident came in around 8:30 a.m. off Hickory Cross Road. Officials say two teens, a 17-year-old and a 15-year-old, were turkey hunting in the area.
The 17-year-old was standing up the look at turkeys across the field when he heard his hunting partner’s gun go off next to him. He then turned to see that the 15-year-old teen has been shot.
Officials say an investigation revealed that the 15-year-old was attempting to stand up when his gun went off, which resulted in the victim dying.
Perquimans County Schools Superintendent Dr. Tanya Turner said that, “out of respect and love for the family,” all after school activities Friday had been canceled – including the high school baseball and softball games, the high school musical and eighth-grade formal. Friday was a teacher workday, and Turner said support was provided to staff.
The school division will operate on a one-hour delay Monday for students only “in order to both comfort and prepare staff for receiving students.”
She said the school division would also have counselors and support staff, to include the Ministers’ Council, available to meet with students and staff, if needed, at each school throughout the day Monday.
“PCHS, our school system and our community suffered a great loss this morning,” Turner said.
No further information has been released at this time.
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.
