Teen killed in hunting accident
By John Joyce
Published in News on November 30, 2015 1:46 PM
The state Wildlife Resources Commission is investigating the death of a Goldsboro teenager in what is being tentatively called a hunting accident off Capps Bridge Road early Sunday.
The incident occurred at 6:48 a.m., Wildlife Officer Milton Grady said today.
Bailey Scott Lynch, 19, died after he was flown to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville.
Grady said he would have to complete his investigation and turn over his findings to the District Attorney's Office before a determination is made whether or not charges will be filed. Until then, there will be no official ruling on the shooting.
"It depends on the way the investigation turns out," Grady said.
Sheriff's Office Maj. Tom Effler said the incident took place at a popular hunting area off Capps Bridge Road. He said preliminary reports indicate a man dropped his gun -- so far only identified as a high powered rifle -- and the gun went off.
The shot struck Lynch, leaving him mortally wounded.
The relationship between Lynch and the man who dropped his gun has not been made public, Effler said. Nor has the man been identified publicly.
Effler did say that the area where the shooting took place is known to hunters to be frequented by deer.
"Oh yeah. There are a lot of deer out there this time of year," he said.
North Carolina law allows hunting on Sundays, after the act became legal on Oct. 1 of this year. According to hunting regulations, hunting with firearms is permitted before 9:30 a.m. and after 12:30 p.m. on Sundays.