Teenage Hunter Kills Girl By Accident

A teenage hunter accidentally shot and killed a 14-year-old girl who was cutting firewood with her parents, authorities say.

Barbara Gonsalves of Pickens died at a hospital shortly after she was shot in the back Friday.

A rifle carried by the young hunter, also 14 years old, fired when he shook it to clear a jam, Pickens County sheriff’s Capt. Dewey Smith said.

No charges had been filed as of Saturday and the sheriff’s office would not identify the hunter.

The 14-year-old hunter had been accompanied by an owner of the property, Smith said.

The Gonsalves family apparently also had permission to be on the land.