Man and daughter, 9, accidentally shot dead by hunters after they mistook them for deer on New Year's Day
COLLETON COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA: A father, 30, and his daughter, 9, died after they were accidentally shot by hunters who mistook them for deer in Colleton County in South Carolina. According to the Post and the Courier, Kim Drawdy and his daughter Lauren had been out hunting when they were shot by another hunter on New Year’s Day.
The incident took place around 2.30 pm on January 1 near Walterboro. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources said that four hunters had been in the area hunting deer when they mistook the father and daughter duo. Details of the case, such as if they were wearing safety gear, will not be released until the entire investigation is complete, authorities said.
They died at the scene Colleton County Coroner Richard Harvey confirmed. Their autopsies are scheduled to be performed on January 5. So far, there has been no information regarding any arrests made in the case and how many people would be charged for the deaths.
The father and the daughter were seasoned deer hunters, according to the father's Facebook page.
A fundraiser has been set up for the family by their loved ones and it said, "Kim Drawdy and his daughter Lauren where both tragically killed in a hunting accident on New Year's Day. We are trying to raise money to help with funeral costs for both of these precious souls. Anything helps, and all prayers are appreciated."
Spokesman David Lucas for the Department of Natural Resources said that in 2019, 16 hunting accidents had occurred out of which 11 had been related to firearms. Two people had died in the incidents. "It’s not a thing that happens a lot,” Lucas said, "Hunting accidents are rare in general, and fatalities even more so.”
David Strickland of Carolina Wildlife Syndicate who is also a hunter told the publication that most accidents happen because of inadequate knowledge of firearm safety.
"Your two rules are, never point your barrel at something you don’t want to shoot, and always identify your target before you shoot,” Strickland said, adding, "We live in a hunting culture. Gun safety is something that absolutely needs to be ingrained in the public education system."