A 17-year-old Iowa resident was tragically killed after being shot during a squirrel hunting session.
The victim was later identified by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as Carson Ryan of Washington. A news release by the department said that the teenager was "mistaken" for a squirrel by a member of his own hunting party and was struck in the back of the head.
Iowa Teen Killed in Squirrel Hunting Accident
After the accident, Ryan was quickly brought to UI Health Care Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The Iowa DNR emphasized that the incident was an accidental shooting amid an official investigation. Authorities said they do not expect any official charges to be filed.
Now, a GoFundMe page was set up to help support the victim's family, which has already raised more than $40,000. Several local schools are encouraging students and staff to wear orange and black in memory of Ryan, according to KCRG.
A Facebook post noted that with Ryan's passing, the Washington community suffered a great loss, describing him as a "beloved, kind, caring, and inspiring" individual. It also acknowledged the outstanding support given by neighboring communities and school districts.
Ryan was said to have been a member of the Washington football and boys basketball teams and was on his school's 2025 homecoming court. Nearly a dozen school districts across the southeastern parts of the state shared online messages, offering condolences to his family, the Des Moines Register reported.
A Teenager's Death
There was a separate but similar incident last year, where an 18-year-old, Malachi Lancaster, died in a hunting incident. Following that tragic event, his family is demanding accountability over the "anguish of unanswered questions and a frustrating investigation process."
Lancaster died on Dec. 8, 2024, after his rifle allegedly "accidentally discharged" while he was hunting with a friend off Southwest Williston Road in Alachua County. Since then, the teenager's family had been patiently waiting for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's investigation to be completed.
In a press release on June 26, the family said that almost seven months have already passed, but they still have not received any answers. They noted that the teenager's death certificate still reads "under investigation" despite months of waiting, as per The Gainesville Sun.
The boy's mother, Sophie Lancaster, said that they have already started to scrutinize the FWC's investigation after they learned of various inconsistencies during the investigative process, particularly what they were told regarding details about the teen's death.
