Monte Cristo Accidental Shooting. Charges

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah.  On September 23, 2018, a fourteen year old was shot and killed.  He was with his parents and sister in the Eli Ridge area of the Monte Cristo Mountain Range near Woodruff in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest driving on a dirt road off Highway 39.  Their Jeep was pierced with a single round.

Another family was doing target practice on a cardboard box to sight a hunting rifle.  Beyond the target was a dense forest.  They were unaware that there was a road beyond, but they did not investigate beyond the trees behind the target.

The shooter has been fully cooperative throughout the investigation  which has been done by the Rich County Sheriff's Office with assistance from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.  It is clear that she never intended to endanger anyone.

After careful review of the evidence, the State has filed a single charge of Negligent Homicide, a class-A misdemeanor in the First Judicial District Court.

 "This is a sad reminder to never shoot until  you know for certain what is downrange," said Benjamin Willoughby, Rich County Attorney.