PERQUIMANS COUNTY, N.C. — A 15-year-old boy died Friday morning after his gun went off while turkey hunting in Perquimans County, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (N.C. Wildlife).
Lt. John Beardsley with N.C. Wildlife said the 15-year-old and a 17-year-old were hunting for turkeys off of Hickory Cross Road around 8:30 a.m. when the shooting happened.
The 17-year-old stood up to look at turkeys across a field with binoculars when he heard the 15-year-old's shotgun go off right next to him.
Investigators believe the 15-year-old was trying to stand up when his own gun went off, resulting in his death. The 17-year-old called 911 and tried to save the boy's life, according to Beardsley.
Officers with N.C. Wildlife are investigating the shooting, a protocol in any hunting-related incident.
