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Hunter killed in West Fairlee.
By ERIC FRANCIS, CORRESPONDENT
3/3/02
WEST FAIRLEE — A hunter from New York was accidentally shot in the abdomen at close range by another hunter and died in the woods here Friday, Vermont State Police said.
The apparent accidental shooting happened at the Wild Hills Game Preserve, a private boar-hunting operation. Despite a massive rescue effort launched by local emergency services, the victim died before medical help could reach him, police said.
Brian Lucia, 35, of Clinton Corners, N.Y., died from a single 7mm gunshot wound to his right stomach area “relatively quickly” after the shooting took place, Vermont State Police Detective Sgt. Pat Devenger said.
Lucia was hunting with a close friend when William Richter, owner of the Wild Hills Game Preserve, pulled up beside them on a four-wheel all terrain vehicle to ask how their hunt was going. Seated behind Richter on the ATV was Tony Fotou, 52, of Douglaston, N.Y.
Fotou had a rifle cradled across his lap pointing in Lucia’s direction. When Richter applied the gas to drive on at the conclusion of the conversation, Futou’s rifle fired, striking Lucia, Devenger said.
“When Richter accelerated to leave, the gun mysteriously went off,” Devenger said. “Earlier in the day Futou’s weapon had misfired several times and that was witnessed by other people.”
Rescuers from Upper Valley Ambulance, the Vershire and Thetford FAST squads, the Bradford Fire Department and the DHART medical helicopter were all on their way to the scene to help Lucia when the first arriving personnel determined that he had already died.
Although both men involved in the fatal shooting were from New York state, they were in separate hunting parties on Friday and did not know each other, Devenger said.
“At this point there are no charges because it is being considered an accidental shooting, resulting in death, but there will be more continued investigation,” Devenger said. "
By ERIC FRANCIS, CORRESPONDENT
3/3/02
WEST FAIRLEE — A hunter from New York was accidentally shot in the abdomen at close range by another hunter and died in the woods here Friday, Vermont State Police said.
The apparent accidental shooting happened at the Wild Hills Game Preserve, a private boar-hunting operation. Despite a massive rescue effort launched by local emergency services, the victim died before medical help could reach him, police said.
Brian Lucia, 35, of Clinton Corners, N.Y., died from a single 7mm gunshot wound to his right stomach area “relatively quickly” after the shooting took place, Vermont State Police Detective Sgt. Pat Devenger said.
Lucia was hunting with a close friend when William Richter, owner of the Wild Hills Game Preserve, pulled up beside them on a four-wheel all terrain vehicle to ask how their hunt was going. Seated behind Richter on the ATV was Tony Fotou, 52, of Douglaston, N.Y.
Fotou had a rifle cradled across his lap pointing in Lucia’s direction. When Richter applied the gas to drive on at the conclusion of the conversation, Futou’s rifle fired, striking Lucia, Devenger said.
“When Richter accelerated to leave, the gun mysteriously went off,” Devenger said. “Earlier in the day Futou’s weapon had misfired several times and that was witnessed by other people.”
Rescuers from Upper Valley Ambulance, the Vershire and Thetford FAST squads, the Bradford Fire Department and the DHART medical helicopter were all on their way to the scene to help Lucia when the first arriving personnel determined that he had already died.
Although both men involved in the fatal shooting were from New York state, they were in separate hunting parties on Friday and did not know each other, Devenger said.
“At this point there are no charges because it is being considered an accidental shooting, resulting in death, but there will be more continued investigation,” Devenger said. "
