14 year old hunter kills hiker..

surferchick2 · Aug 14th, 2008, 05:26 AM

Teen hunter who killed hiker to be charged

02:53 PM PDT on Tuesday, August 12, 2008

KING5.com Staff

ROCKPORT, Wash. – A 14-year-old hunter who fatally shot a hiker on a Skagit County trail will be charged with first degree manslaughter in juvenile court, the Skagit County Prosecutor's Office says.
Prosecutor Rich Weyrich says the young bear hunter acted recklessly when he fatally shot 54-year-old Pamela Almli of Oso on Aug. 2.
Almli was shot in the head as she bent over to put a jacket into a backpack. The boy was with his 16-year-old brother when he fired a .270-caliber rifle from about 120 yards away.
The boy said he mistook Almli for a bear.
An investigation determined that the boys' grandfather dropped the boys off in the Sauk Mountain area near Rockport but was not with them when the shooting occurred, Chief Deputy Will Reichardt said.
The two teens, from Concrete, were on a ledge overlooking the popular Sauk Mountain trail when Almli, who was wearing a bright blue poncho, stopped to put something into her backpack.
According to Almli's hiking partner, it had started drizzling and Almli had just put on the poncho when the shot rang out.

The area where Almli was shot is wide open with no trees around.
"How do you confuse a woman with a bear?" asked William Almli, Pam's husband.
Weyrich says the teenager failed to follow guidelines in the state's hunting safety manual, especially being sure of a target and what lies beyond it.
Both boys are licensed to hunt bears. The two hunters broke no laws by hunting in the area and there is no minimum age for hunting in Washington.
The teen took a hunting class when he was nine years old. If convicted he could face nine months in juvenile detention.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

http://www.nwcn.com/statenews/washin....3cdd9058.html

GirlFriday · Aug 14th, 2008, 06:16 AM

How awful. How did he mistake her for a bear when she was in an open area? I'm not a hunter, so I wouldn't know how easy or hard it is to see from a long distance, but I just don't really get how he mistook her for a bear.

Glamfoxx · Aug 14th, 2008, 08:16 AM

Sad. Not sure how he mistook her for a bear... I am sure he did not intend to shoot a person, but you shouldn't shoot unless you are damn sure of what you are shooting at.

ShimmaPuff · Aug 14th, 2008, 09:18 AM

Someone will have to tell me if people with normal vision can see things that are 360 feet away, and I would also need to know a little bit about the poncho. Was it made of bear fur?

leothelnss · Aug 14th, 2008, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surferchick2

The two teens, from Concrete, were on a ledge overlooking the popular Sauk Mountain trail when Almli, who was wearing a bright blue poncho, stopped to put something into her backpack.

"How do you confuse a woman with a bear?" asked William Almli, Pam's husband.

If convicted he could face nine months in juvenile detention.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

It's really a shame that she dressed up as the legendary "bright blue bear"

As for a woman being mistaken for a bear... I'm sure it's happened before, but I doubt the woman got shot for it.
This is pretty sad. Kids should never be left alone with GUNS.
9 months... I'd hope my life were worth a bigger lesson than that.

Glamfoxx · Aug 14th, 2008, 10:09 AM

Maybe they should test the kid for color blindess. A hunched over person in a blue poncho might look like a bear to somebody who can't see blue. Not trying to make excuses for the kid, just trying to figure out how the heck he made this fatal mistake.

HauteMama · Aug 14th, 2008, 10:24 AM

Every year someone (or two or three) gets shot during hunting season in this state, even though people are usually wearing bright orange hats or coats. This is the inherent danger of letting people loose with guns and allowing them to shoot whatever moves. At least there ought to be warnings posted in public areas during gun season so rational people can stay out of the way!

bagaholic85 · Aug 14th, 2008, 10:50 AM

very sad for all of those involved

Jahpson · Aug 14th, 2008, 10:50 AM

im not buying the "I thought she was a bear" argument.

I dont recall ever seeing a bright blue bear. I dont know if the victim was the intended shot, or it was suppose to be a joke, but I dont like that excuse the kid made.

Bay · Aug 14th, 2008, 11:05 AM

This is so sad.

Nymph · Aug 14th, 2008, 01:00 PM

So tragic for all parties involved... Especially the victim's husband

surferchick2 · Aug 14th, 2008, 02:19 PM

The sad thing is we go hiking, mt biking and mountaineering in the area and getting shot by a hunter has never crossed our minds since it's one of the most popular areas for outdoor active sports. The ironic thing is, we wear bear bells to scare them off when it's our own species we have to consider also. I didn't even know that there is no age limit to be a licensed rifle toter and hunter in wa state.

k2sealer · Aug 14th, 2008, 03:29 PM

The kid that shot the poor woman was only 14 years old. Plus he took the hunter safety course when he was 9. Now, how many 14 year olds are going to remember all the key points of a class from 5 YEARS AGO!?

Who thinks of it being hunting season during the middle of August?

I grew up around hunting and gun clubs, etc. In fact, my 67 year old Mother is teaching a Hunter Safety Course THIS week. I took the class and passed when I was 7 or 8 years old. But I probably sat through the class 50 times because both my parents taught the class several times a year.

One of the MOST important things they say in the class is know your target and what is behind it. Don't get so caught up in the moment that you go to shoot a deer (or whatever) and end up getting the guy standing 100 yards behind the deer.

This whole thing is just so sad and tragic all the way around.

BTW, in WA state, if your birthday is after 1974 you do have to take and pass the Hunter Safety Course before you can have a hunting license. But that is the only requirement. Hopefully, they will make a new law that you have to have an adult with you too.

Oh, and the grandfather of the 14 year old shooter and his 16 year old brother had dropped them off at the trail and was sitting in his truck.

ShimmaPuff · Aug 14th, 2008, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glamfoxx

Maybe they should test the kid for color blindess...

That is not a bad idea, and the results would definitely have bearing on the credibility of his assertion that he thought she was a bear.

I am not personally a big fan of hunting, but I can't claim a strong opinion about the boy's age. The fact is that many, many kids his age and younger do regularly go hunting, especially where not prohibited by law, and they do follow those rules they learn either in formal classes, or from elders, about being sure of one's target, and as a result they do not shoot people, and this story would be no less tragic had the shooter been 41.

impasto · Aug 14th, 2008, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glamfoxx

Maybe they should test the kid for color blindess. A hunched over person in a blue poncho might look like a bear to somebody who can't see blue. Not trying to make excuses for the kid, just trying to figure out how the heck he made this fatal mistake.

If they were colorblind in no way should they have received a hunting license. I would hope that a vision test is required.

Aug 14th, 2008, 05:26 AM	#1
surferchick2 Member	14 year old hunter kills hiker.. Teen hunter who killed hiker to be charged 02:53 PM PDT on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 KING5.com Staff ROCKPORT, Wash. – A 14-year-old hunter who fatally shot a hiker on a Skagit County trail will be charged with first degree manslaughter in juvenile court, the Skagit County Prosecutor's Office says. Prosecutor Rich Weyrich says the young bear hunter acted recklessly when he fatally shot 54-year-old Pamela Almli of Oso on Aug. 2. Almli was shot in the head as she bent over to put a jacket into a backpack. The boy was with his 16-year-old brother when he fired a .270-caliber rifle from about 120 yards away. The boy said he mistook Almli for a bear. An investigation determined that the boys' grandfather dropped the boys off in the Sauk Mountain area near Rockport but was not with them when the shooting occurred, Chief Deputy Will Reichardt said. The two teens, from Concrete, were on a ledge overlooking the popular Sauk Mountain trail when Almli, who was wearing a bright blue poncho, stopped to put something into her backpack. According to Almli's hiking partner, it had started drizzling and Almli had just put on the poncho when the shot rang out. The area where Almli was shot is wide open with no trees around. "How do you confuse a woman with a bear?" asked William Almli, Pam's husband. Weyrich says the teenager failed to follow guidelines in the state's hunting safety manual, especially being sure of a target and what lies beyond it. Both boys are licensed to hunt bears. The two hunters broke no laws by hunting in the area and there is no minimum age for hunting in Washington. The teen took a hunting class when he was nine years old. If convicted he could face nine months in juvenile detention. The Associated Press contributed to this report. http://www.nwcn.com/statenews/washin....3cdd9058.html

Aug 14th, 2008, 09:18 AM	#4
ShimmaPuff Sentient Post Whore Location: Earth	Someone will have to tell me if people with normal vision can see things that are 360 feet away, and I would also need to know a little bit about the poncho. Was it made of bear fur? __________________ http://www.tzuchi.org/ http://www.commongroundrelief.org http://www.oxfamunwrapped.com/chooseagift.aspx Your Friendly Resident Poor Person Embrace Inspired Pride! http://mangonocturna.blogspot.com/

Aug 14th, 2008, 10:50 AM	#9
Jahpson Member Location: The Playground	im not buying the "I thought she was a bear" argument. I dont recall ever seeing a bright blue bear. I dont know if the victim was the intended shot, or it was suppose to be a joke, but I dont like that excuse the kid made. __________________ Amazingly Sophisticated Happy Holidays to all my TPF friends!

Aug 14th, 2008, 11:05 AM	#10
Bay Purses are teh shiet Location: Somewhere I dont want to be..	This is so sad. __________________ Lusting for Prada/MiuMiu, Balenciaga and MJ..

Aug 14th, 2008, 01:00 PM	#11
Nymph Black WE please! Location: Singapore	So tragic for all parties involved... Especially the victim's husband __________________ "If women didn't exist, all the money in the world would have no meaning"

Aug 14th, 2008, 06:16 AM	#2
GirlFriday Member	How awful. How did he mistake her for a bear when she was in an open area? I'm not a hunter, so I wouldn't know how easy or hard it is to see from a long distance, but I just don't really get how he mistook her for a bear.

Aug 14th, 2008, 08:16 AM	#3
Glamfoxx Member	Sad. Not sure how he mistook her for a bear... I am sure he did not intend to shoot a person, but you shouldn't shoot unless you are damn sure of what you are shooting at.

Aug 14th, 2008, 10:09 AM	#6
Glamfoxx Member	Maybe they should test the kid for color blindess. A hunched over person in a blue poncho might look like a bear to somebody who can't see blue. Not trying to make excuses for the kid, just trying to figure out how the heck he made this fatal mistake.

Aug 14th, 2008, 10:24 AM	#7
HauteMama Member	Every year someone (or two or three) gets shot during hunting season in this state, even though people are usually wearing bright orange hats or coats. This is the inherent danger of letting people loose with guns and allowing them to shoot whatever moves. At least there ought to be warnings posted in public areas during gun season so rational people can stay out of the way!

Aug 14th, 2008, 10:50 AM	#8
bagaholic85 Member Location: i <3 ny	very sad for all of those involved

Aug 14th, 2008, 02:19 PM	#12
surferchick2 Member	The sad thing is we go hiking, mt biking and mountaineering in the area and getting shot by a hunter has never crossed our minds since it's one of the most popular areas for outdoor active sports. The ironic thing is, we wear bear bells to scare them off when it's our own species we have to consider also. I didn't even know that there is no age limit to be a licensed rifle toter and hunter in wa state.

Aug 14th, 2008, 03:29 PM	#13
k2sealer Kerri Location: Everett, Washington	The kid that shot the poor woman was only 14 years old. Plus he took the hunter safety course when he was 9. Now, how many 14 year olds are going to remember all the key points of a class from 5 YEARS AGO!? Who thinks of it being hunting season during the middle of August? I grew up around hunting and gun clubs, etc. In fact, my 67 year old Mother is teaching a Hunter Safety Course THIS week. I took the class and passed when I was 7 or 8 years old. But I probably sat through the class 50 times because both my parents taught the class several times a year. One of the MOST important things they say in the class is know your target and what is behind it. Don't get so caught up in the moment that you go to shoot a deer (or whatever) and end up getting the guy standing 100 yards behind the deer. This whole thing is just so sad and tragic all the way around. BTW, in WA state, if your birthday is after 1974 you do have to take and pass the Hunter Safety Course before you can have a hunting license. But that is the only requirement. Hopefully, they will make a new law that you have to have an adult with you too. Oh, and the grandfather of the 14 year old shooter and his 16 year old brother had dropped them off at the trail and was sitting in his truck.