N.C. hunter killed by Game Warden

[RLWEBB]

From AT:

Dispatcher: Hunter Shot, Killed by Game Warden in Wilkes County
Staff Writer
April 11, 2009

WILKES COUNTY, N.C. - A hunter was reportedly shot and killed on the opening day of Turkey Season by a state game warden early Saturday morning in Wilkes County.

The incident happened around 7:30 a.m. off Cane Creek Church Road in the McGrady community, about ten miles from North Wilkesboro, according to wildlife dispatchers.

The hunter's identity has not yet been released. The officer involved was Mark Minton, a veteran Wildlife Resources officer.

State Bureau of Investigation agents are now handling the case, which is typical with any officer involved shooting.
Copyright © 2009, WGHP-TV

Also from AT:

MCGRADY, N.C. - A wildlife official said a veteran game warden acted in self defense when he shot and killed a hunter on the hunter's property Saturday, the first day of turkey season.

Wildlife Resources officers told FOX8 News officer Mark Minton shot Clyde Coffey around 7:30 a.m. on Coffey's property north of North Wilkesboro. Minton is a 12-year veteran of the force.

Friends and family described Clyde Coffey, 76, as a "teddy bear of man." His daughter, Debbie Robbins, said Coffey often came to his house on Cane Creek Church Rd. to hunt on the hill behind his property. Saturday's hunting trip was with Coffey's son-in-law and two grandchildren.

"Officer Minton, a 12-year-veteran of the Law Enforcement Division of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, was on patrol on the opening day of the 2009 spring wild turkey season in North Carolina. An armed confrontation with a hunter resulted in Officer Minton firing a shot, apparently in self-defense, which led to the death of the alleged assailant," Penny Miller said in a release from Wildlife Resources Commission.

The investigation of the shooting is being conducted by the State Bureau of Investigation, in accordance with prescribed procedures. Officer Minton is currently on paid administrative leave.

Robbins said her father was hard of hearing and she's afraid that may have caused a miscommunication between him and the officer.

Sounds like a bad deal all the way around. Sad.

[I_HUNT_ALL]

Wow thats never good news, wish there was more detail to the story....

[stratos907]

Yea....that sux

[Hornblaster]

I've had a game warden pull a gun on me and my cocker spaniel before. The dog was on a leash and laying down when the gun was pulled, said the dog gave him that look.

[stratos907]

I had a CO from Butler county search my truck about 4 years ago because I had a few sheds laying in the bed. I was parked by a gravel road on Peabody in MUHLENBURG county shed hunting and had found 3 earlier that morning. I was coming back to the truck and he drove by...stopped...and intruduced himself. Checked my permit and the usually things. And was very nice about it. Then...he looked in the bed of my truck and saw 3 hed antlers laying in the back. He then morphed into friggin' robocop and started searching my truck fo god knows what. I was for Aston Kutcher to jump out of the weeds.....but I wasn't being punked...he was serious. All he found was 1 winchester supreme turkey lod that had been rolling around under the seat of my truck for a couple years.

[CHL]

That's a horrible, horrible incident. Hate it for everyone involved.

[Pugs]

That's a horrible, horrible incident. Hate it for everyone involved.

Yep, this won't turn out well for anyone.

[Luckybuck]

From everything I have heard and read, the old man was hunting in a treestand, warden was checking the area for bait piles for turkeys, warden asked him to come down. They got into a confrontation and the man threatened to shoot the warden. Warden called for backup, man approached him while pointing a gun at him and he defended himself(While hiding behind a tree).
Unless it turns out different after the SBI's investigation, he was defending himself.

[stratos907]

Just for he record....the man wieghed 198 pounds and had a 14 inch beard...ok...maybe that was tastless:rolleyes:

[RutNBuck]

has anyone besides me seen the movie about claude dallas?
he shot 2 officers as they checked him..true story
i believe it happened in idaho F&W officers take risks everyday for the wildlife we all enjoy to hunt.I take my hat off to them for the job they do..

[duckslayer870]

Well We will never know both sides of the story now will we. I have seen a badge and mountme hat turn rational people that I have known most of my life into complete raging idiots. Of course 95 % of Game warden confrontations are armed DUH. Nothing good can come of this I assure you. I am not blaming the CO but we know how many of them get on a power trip.

[philipfleek]

When I see the man pull into the dove field I hunt I shuck the shells asap and put the gun down with the chamber open and take 3 steps back.. Dont want to give any new guy any reason! But thats jsut me...;):rolleyes:

[RutNBuck]

i have nothing but good things to say about the men/women in green they take risks everyday for us outdoorsy people

had a odd event happen one time on a dove shoot up until that day i have NEVER had my gun to be able to hold a 4th shell even thou i only had it loaded with 3 WHEN all of a sudden i thought i had put in a 3rd shell WHICH turned out to be a 4th...believe me or not i said officer i honestly have never had this problem he said bought your shells at walmart didnt you? i was like like yelp..he said that they was having a ton of problems becuz walmart shells were shorter in length (1/8-1/4") which allowed just enough room for a 4th shell to be possible..SUPER good guy actually allowed me to shoot the shells up but i had to make sure that until they was gone i was only putting 3 at a time...NOW thats a super good officer...
(BTW he has now since retired) he could have indeed been a jerk but totally understanding

[BRADM]

I'm guessing theres more to this story. Still very sad. :(

[WaterDog88]

I saw on another site where some one who says they talked to a N.C warden said that the old man fired at the warden first after becoming extremely belligerant after which the warden retreated and tried to get him to put the gun down, but ended up shooting the one lethal shot. Now thats just what someone who says they know what they are talking about said? Word of mouth, and the fact that they arent releasing much info leaves alot of room for speculation. I would say the whole story will come out once the investigation is done. Bad situation regardless, prayers to both families...