Leesburg Hunter Killed When Gun Fires Accidentally

By The Associated Press
Published: October 21, 2008

» Comments | Post a Comment

A Leesburg man trying to pull a loaded gun from his truck was killed when it went off and hit him in the chest.

Authorities say 73-year-old Johnny G. Hurst was pronounced dead at the scene Sunday inside the Osceola National Forest. Hurst's wife and two sons were with him when the accident occurred.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports that it appears the muzzleloader was already loaded when Hurst grabbed the barrel of the gun to pull it out of the truck. The trigger likely was hooked on something, causing the gun to fire.

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office reports that Hurst's body was sent to Jacksonville for an autopsy, but no foul play was suspected.