Goose Creek man killed in hunting accident in Beaufort County, coroner’s office says
A Goose Creek man was killed on St. Helena Island on Saturday afternoon in a hunting accident, according to the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office.
Jay Allen Howard, 42, of Goose Creek, S.C. was pronounced dead at the scene after being shot in the chest by a member of his hunting group, according to Chief Deputy Coroner David Ott.
Ott said the group was in an open field behind Shiney Road on St. Helena Island after 4 p.m. Saturday.
Howard was walking back from his truck to the group when a deer jumped out between them. A hunter shot at the deer, striking Howard in the chest, according to Ott.
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and S.C. Department of Natural Resources responded to the scene.
An autopsy was performed on Sunday, Ott said.
SCDNR is leading the investigation into the shooting, according to Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Bob Bromage.
All the hunters were wearing orange safety vests, Ott said.
