13-Year Old Silverton Boy Shot in Neck While Hunting

In spite of the gunshot wound, the boys then walked approximately 1/2 mile to the victims house.

Salem-News.com

(SILVERTON, Ore.) - A Silverton teen will recover after being shot in the neck during a hunting accident today at 5:30 p.m.

Lt. Sheila Lorance with the Marion County Sheriff's Office says one boy shot the other accidentally in the 7500 block of Meridian Road in Mt. Angel.

The two boys, both 13-years old and from the Mt. Angel area, told investigators they were walking near the Abiqua River target practicing with a .22 caliber rifle when the accident happened.

Lorance says the shot happened when one boy saw a bird and raised the weapon to shoot at it.

"According to both boys, the weapon got caught in his coat and discharged, striking the victim in the neck. One of the boys had a cell phone with him and called 9-1-1."

In spite of the gunshot wound, the boys then walked approximately 1/2 mile to the victims house where medics responded and transported him to the Silverton Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Lorance says the .22 caliber bullet was lodged in the boy's neck, and he has been transported to OHSU for further observation.

At this time, no criminal charges have been filed and it appears this was an accident.

Any further information will be released as it becomes available.