Alaska News

Man says hunting partner's death was accidental shooting

A man says he accidentally shot and killed his female hunting partner Tuesday near a lake off the Alaska Highway, according to Alaska State Troopers.

The man and woman, who have not been identified, were hunting moose at Jan Lake, about 7 miles east of the small community of Dot Lake, said troopers spokeswoman Beth Ipsen.

It was about 2:50 p.m. Tuesday when the man called 911 to say he had accidentally shot the woman with a high-powered hunting rifle, Ipsen said.

"They weren't even going out for the whole day," Ipsen said. "It was just a short 'let's get out and go hunting' trip."

Medical personnel drove about 45 minutes from Tok and pronounced the woman dead upon their arrival. Her body was sent to Anchorage for an autopsy, Ipsen said.

Troopers are releasing few details about the shooting, such as whether the man pointed the gun and shot or inadvertently pulled the trigger. Investigators were still looking into the circumstances that led up to the woman's death, Ipsen said.

"At this point, (they have) the guy's statements, and they're just double-checking them to make sure everything lines up and waiting for the autopsy results," Ipsen said. "We have to make sure the evidence supports his statements."

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Troopers have not released either persons' name because the dead woman's next of kin had not been notified as of Wednesday.

Reach Casey Grove at casey.grove@adn.com or 257-4589.

By CASEY GROVE

Anchorage Daily News

Casey Grove

Casey Grove is a former reporter for the Anchorage Daily News. He left the ADN in 2014.

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