Iowa teen dies in hunting accident after mistaking him for a squirrel

A 17-year-old Iowa student, Carson Ryan of Washington, died after being accidentally shot in the head Saturday afternoon when a member of his hunting group mistook him for a squirrel, state officials said. The incident occurred around 3 p.m. in a rural area of Brighton in Washington County. Ryan was transported to UI Health Care Medical Center and later died of his injuries, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said.

Authorities said the shooter, a member of Ryan’s hunting party who has not been publicly identified, fired after seeing movement and believing the target was a squirrel. Captain Shawn Meier of the DNR Law Enforcement Bureau said environmental conditions can contribute to misidentification and urged hunters to confirm targets before shooting. “You have the sunlight coming in, shadows will start to creep in, you have other types of movement,” Meier said, adding that hunters should take time to make sure they are seeing the intended target.

The DNR and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office are jointly investigating the shooting. Officials have described the shooting as accidental; no charges or further legal actions have been announced. Investigators have not...