A groom-to-be accidentally shot and killed a groomsman after he and two friends were skunk hunting at an Arizona campsite late last month, authorities said.
The gunman, whose identity has not been released, believed he had no bullets left in his gun when he pulled the trigger and fired a .22-caliber bullet into his friend’s abdomen on July 26 at the United Christian Youth Camp in Prescott, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.
The victim was Jack Creed, 22, of Peoria. According to AZ Family, He was rushed to a nearby hospital and initially listed in stable condition, but developed complications during the flight to a hospital in Phoenix and died hours after undergoing surgery, authorities said.
The sheriff’s office said the pair had been “skunk hunting” in a secluded part of the campground and had finished up around 10:30 p.m., according to the outlet.
The sheriff’s office said the groom-to-be pulled the charging handle several times before “thought” the gun was empty.
“During the initial investigation, officers learned the victim was scheduled to be a groomsman at the shooter’s wedding,” the sheriff’s office said.
Authorities said a preliminary investigation showed no signs of intoxication or alcohol consumption on the part of the shooter.
Law enforcement said last week that the incident remains under investigation.
