Hunter charged with homicide in death of Pennsylvania teen shot while watching sunset

[modrepub]

A hunter was charged with homicide in the death of an 18-year-old boy who was shot and killed in his car while watching the sunset at a Pennsylvania state park.

Kenneth Troy Heller, 52, is facing charges of criminal homicide, recklessly endangering another person and failing to render aid to a person injured by a hunter, according to court records. Heller allegedly walked away after shooting 18-year-old Jason Kutt in October, who was sitting at a lake in Nockamixon State Park with his girlfriend, Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub said.

Prosecutors agreed to a deal with Heller, who was sent to jail following his preliminary arraignment Wednesday. Kutt’s parents were consulted in the decision, according to Weintraub.

“Jason’s family gets to know exactly what happened to him,” Weintraub said. “They will not like it but they can have some finality in the knowledge of what happened to Jason. They get finality in the criminal justice system.”


https://www.yahoo.com/news/hunter-charged-homicide-death-pennsylvania-182544185.html


And that's why my wife and I don't walk in state parks this time of year and why I wasn't happy when hunters were given the go ahead to hunt on certain Sundays.

[Freddie]

1. That happened very near me

Even if he shot the young man thinking he was a deer, his girlfriend started screaming and Heller left the scene instead of calling 911 and offering aid. Should get 2nd degree murder.

[Harker]

2. A deer in a car? n/t

[modrepub]

3. Bad Hunting Practices

Responsible hunters should know what directions are off limits if game enter them. Basically, you don't shoot if the line of site is towards a residence or other hunter/people. I've talked with many hunters near where my wife and I walk. Most are cognizant of where people houses are and where other hunters have set up. Unfortunately, some folks get over excited and don't think before they shoot.

These types of situations are tragic because gun mistakes can be fatal.

[Harker]

4. How awful.

I'm not particularly knowledgeable about such matters, but on first consideration, State Parks don't seem like safe places for discharging firearms, even for well-instructed, thoughtful hunters.

I've seen parks well attended by hikers, swimmers, etc., and several I've visited have homes within their boundaries.

[Sugarcoated]

5. I hope he gets the maximum penalty

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

6. Such a tragedy. RIP. His poor family and friends.

It's hard to tell when hunting season is. All I've found are tables for each of the many various kinds of hunting, but I can't seem to find a calendar, so that you can look at any specific day and tell what kind of hunting is allowed. With those tables for each of the various kinds of hunting you would have to look at every one to know what's going on on any particular day.

Anyone know of a calendar like I'm hoping to find?

Not to mention, it always seems like hunting season around here. Unidentified neighbors are shooting off guns all the time. No local noise ordinance, and overwhelmingly Republican, so nothing to be done. It's so nerve-wracking.