Wilkes Journal-Patriot
Officer kills hunter Saturday morning
by Chuck Hubbard
(Photo caption) Patricia Anderson/staff photo-Lenoir man shot—A hunter from Lenoir was killed Saturday by a wildlife officer in a wooded area above this home on Cane Creek Road in the McGrady community.
A hunter was shot and killed by a state wildlife officer in a steeply-sloped, wooded area off of Cane Creek Church Road in the McGrady community Saturday morning, authorities say.
Officer Mark Minton, a 12-year veteran with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, shot 77-year-old Clyde Coffey of Lenoir with his service revolver, according to Capt. Steve Cabe, chief of detectives for the Wilkes Sheriff's Department.
Coffey died at the scene of a gunshot wound to the chest, Medical Examiner Denise Johnson said. A sheriff's department report indicated that deputies were sent to the scene at 7:35 a.m.
The shooting took place in a wooded area above a home on Cane Creek which was owned by the Coffey family, Cabe said.
Saturday was the opening day of spring wild turkey season and Minton was investigating a report of people hunting over an illegally baited field, Cabe said. Wildlife officers were investigating several reports of baited fields in Wilkes County, he noted.
Capt. Rusty Hunter of the N.C. Wildlife Commission told members of the media that Minton was acting in self-defense when he shot Coffey. "There is no evidence to suggest the officer confused the hunter with an animal," he said.
Penny Miller, a spokesman for the wildlife agency, said Minton is on administrative leave pending completion of an investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation. This is standard procedure following a shooting involving an officer, she said. Ms. Miller declined to say why Minton shot Coffey.
Hunter's comments were based on initial reports he received, Ms. Miller said. She said the wildlife agency is standing behind Hunter's statement that the shooting was self-defense.
Sgt. Joven Greene of the sheriff's department, along with deputies David Golden and Earl Byrd, came to the scene after receiving a report from the Wilkes County Communications Center that an officer needed assistance, Cabe said. Wildlife officers then came to the scene and requested that the SBI conduct an investigation.
Jennifer Canada, a spokesman for the SBI, confirmed that the agency is investigating the shooting. She declined to comment on any details with regard to the nature of the shooting.
She said all findings from the investigation will be handed over to District Attorney Tom Horner's office.
Assistant District Attorney Fred Bauer said this morning that it is premature to form any opinion at to the nature of the shooting at this point. "The SBI's investigation is far from complete."
The district attorney's office will make a decision about the case after a final report is received from the SBI, Bauer said.
