Hunter shoots and kills 43-year-old woman after mistaking her for a deer

A woman was killed after a hunter mistook her for a deer and shot her with a high-powered pistol Wednesday night (22 November). Rosemary Billquist of Sherman, New York was walking her two Labrador dogs in a field close to the Pennsylvania border when she was struck down by a single bullet.

The hunter, Thomas Jadlowski (34) told the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office that he thought he saw a deer 200 yards away and fired at it. Hearing a scream, he rushed to the spot and attempted to stop the bleeding by putting pressure on the wound.

Jadlowski then called emergency services and the 43-year-old woman was taken to a hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania where she was pronounced dead.

According to authorities, the shooting took place 40 minutes after sunset — a violation of state laws forbidding hunting in the dark.

"I know she's touched so many lives with her kindness and would help anyone no matter what," Billquist's husband, Jamie, posted on Facebook on 23 November. "Plz everyone have Thanksgiving with your family's and enjoy those moments, they are precious."

There has been a rise in accidents since the start of deer hunting season in the US. On Thursday, a Kentucky man was shot dead by his hunting partner while on 22 November, a man was shot in the leg by members of his group. According to the report, two of the other hunters shot their rifles in his direction while attempting to take down a deer.

In one case in New York, a truck ended up being a victim of the hunting season. A man from Ohio misidentified a brown-coloured pick-up truck for a deer and shot at it with a 7mm high-powered scoped rifle.

The bullet struck the vehicle's front fender, close to where two occupants were sitting. Neither person was injured but the shot hit the engine compartment, which completely disabled the truck.