The Sutter County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies responded to a hunting accident that took place in the Fremont Wier Wildlife Area Sunday morning.
Upon arrival, deputies found the victim, 65-year-old Shawn Parrish of Sacramento, with a gunshot wound to the back of the head.
Emergency crews were unsuccessful in their life-saving efforts. Parrish died at the scene.
According to the report, investigations reveal that 80-year-old John Lee of Sacramento, “reportedly fired his shotgun into the brush, hoping to shoot a turkey, though unaware of what he was aiming at.”
Lee was arrested and taken to the Sutter County jail, where he faces charges for second degree murder and negligent discharge of a firearm.
The story serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the need for hunters to positively identify their target before they pull the trigger.
