First ever? Game Dept. sees Ferrum's as only collateral killing
An allegedly trespassing hunter named Jason D. Cloutier reportedly mistook a 23-year-old Ferrum College student for a deer November 17 and squeezed the trigger on his high-powered rifle, killing the young woman, who was collecting frogs for a science project.
The fatally-injured Ferrum student has been identified by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries as Jessica K. "Jess" Goode of the Winchester area.
In a same-day press conference, filmed by Roanoke tv station WSLS, the campus police chief, Libby Clegg, offers a tip: "Everyone in the woods needs to be wearing blaze orange this time of year–- everyone. Even your pets."
While multiple hunter deaths are sad if frequent occurrence every year in Virginia, this is the first nearby death of a non-hunter in memory–- though the still officially-unsolved 1997 backyard killing of Janice Garrison on Lonesome Mountain Road in Albemarle still resonates.
"This is extremely rare," says Game Department spokesperson Julia Dixon. "There are no records of a non-participant ever being killed in a hunting-related incident in Virginia."
Last year in Washington state, however, a woman was mistakenly killed for allegedly looking like bear. And in the most notorious case, in 1988, a mother of twin one-year-olds was slain in her Maine backyard by a longtime hunter who allegedly mistook her white mittens for a deer's tail.
In the Ferrum incident, officers with the Game Department charged the 31-year-old Cloutier of Ferrum with manslaughter, reckless handling of a firearm, and trespassing to hunt. The incident occurred on county-owned property about a mile from the Ferrum College campus. Media reports indicate that Cloutier was the first or among the first to call 911.
–the story above originally gave the wrong year of the Maine case (which was 1988 and not 1988), and this above story was cobbled together for our print publication from the dispatches below:
4:11pm update: "This is extremely rare," says Game Department spokesperson Julia Dixon, in response to a reporter's question. "There are no records of a non-participant ever being killed in a hunting-related incident in Virginia."
1:57pm update: The fatally-injured Ferrum student has been identified by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries as Frederick County native Jessica K. Goode, and she is pictured on the new Facebook memorial page.
8:19am original: An allegedly trespassing hunter named Jason D. Cloutier reportedly mistook a 23-year-old Ferrum College student for a deer and squeezed the trigger on his high-powered rifle, killing the young woman, who was collecting frogs for a science project. In a same-day press conference November 17, filmed by Roanoke tv station WSLS, the campus police chief, Libby Clegg, offers a tip: "Everyone in the woods needs to be wearing blaze orange this time of year–- everyone. Even your pets."
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While multiple hunter deaths are sad if frequent occurrence every year in Virginia, this is the first nearby death of a non-hunter in recent memory–- though the still officially-unsolved 1997 backyard killing of Janice Garrison on Lonesome Mountain Road in Albemarle still resonates.
Last year in Washington state, a woman was mistakenly killed for allegedly looking like bear. And in the most notorious case, in 1989, a mother of twin one-year-olds was slain in her Maine backyard by a longtime hunter who allegedly mistook her white mittens for a deer's tail.
In the Ferrum incident, officers with the Game Department charged the 31-year-old Cloutier of Ferrum with manslaughter, reckless handling of a firearm, and trespassing to hunt. The incident occurred on county-owned property about a mile from the Ferrum College campus. Media reports indicate that Cloutier was the first to call 911.
While an anti-hunting group maintains a list of horrific accidents, others such as Charlottesville resident Jackson Landers teaches safe hunting as a way to get fresh, free-range meat.
–original posting 8:19am; original headline: "After hunt killing, a blaze orange warning" –second headline: "Hunter-slain Ferrum student identified"
21 comments
This sickens me as this is a constant recurring theme during hunting season no matter where I live. All across the country there have been numerous OUTRAGEOUS incidents such as this one. Trespassing hunters are given a slap on the wrist while homeowners, hikers, anyone roaming protected or private land are blamed for not wearing the orange. Yes, I agree that it is better to be safe than sorry, but also these negligent hunters who scoff at safety and the law NEED to be brought to appropriate justice and face the consequences of their actions.
There is no excuse for not abiding by posted signs and for not taking all the precautions before one shoots what they think is an animal.
This is absolutely insane! I live near there and have had to deal with hunters trespassing on Park land and have video taped and had a few charged but to know how close this was to the elementary school and my child goes there along with many more, it is scary. He should be charged and put away for life if he was pure stupid enough to mistake a human being for a 4 legged animal and actually take the shot? I have hunted for 17 years and have passed up many huge bucks because of safety concerns but to know that somebody is stupid enough to take a shot at a human being thinking they were an animal makes my sick and scared at the same time. God be with her family through this during the holidays. I hope this guy knows what he has done!
Trespassing = Not Smart......Pointing a Rifle at a human = Not Smart.......Thinking a human is a deer = Not Smart.........PULLING THE TRIGGER WHEN YOU HEAR SOMETHING MOVE = A Perfect example of why stupid careless people should not have guns. BP Frome Ferrum, Just because you know him does not mean he should be patted on the hand and told bad boy, be careful next time. Nobody said he meant to kill her, they said he was a damn fool for accidentally killing her thinking she was a deer or making a sound shot like an idiot, so maybe you should read before speaking, let your brain catch up to your mouth! You go get the nuts!!!
First ever? maybe by "non-participant" they mean someone who was in the woods not hunting, because there certainly are some accidental shootings of other hunters every year.
According to all the reports I have now read there were three students present. One was killed, one took the same round through his arm, and a third was not injured.
How does a hunter mistake 3 people for a deer?
Not kidding. There are several counties in VA that prohibit rifles when deer hunting (slugs in shotguns only).
confused, you're joking, right?
That is terrible. I'm a hunter and have been for almost 30 years. I've had all the training necessary and wear blaze orange while in the woods. I NEVER squeeze the trigger unless I am absolutely POSITIVE of what I'm shooting at! Every sportman knows this. Jason Cloutier should be charged and spend decades in prison for his recklessnes! This is NOT an accident, accidents are preventable.
This man needs to be put to death for KILLING this person. This young person is dead because of this stupid person's behavior.
i live right at the base of the mountains and hunters use our property all the time. most of them are courteous and come ask me first, and then give me some venison as a thank you. but i have four kids and two dogs and there are hunters who trespass, hunt when they're not supposed to, and bait for bears. we always wear bright colors when we hike, in or out of season.
the hunter should be charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Hmmm, didn't he look in his scope? How could a woman collecting frogs look anything like a deer? This is so terrible.
If the Game Warden took trespassing more serious it would reduce the tresspassing by 75%overnight. Hunters know that the police look the other way and are fearless.
All they need to do is start arresting trespassers and fine them and then take that money to hire more agents to deal with tresspassers and fine them until a balance is struck.
I'm not a hunter anymore due to stupid behavior like this person who shot this poor helpless lady. First he is a trespasser, that's a crime, did he have a hunting licence, but this does not matter, he was there illegal. Some one like this man will lie like a common criminal to try and get out of this mess he's in. But civily he should be sued for everything he has and for money he will get in the future for many many years. I cannot tolerate such stuipid behavior like this. It gives bad names to legal hunters who love to go into the woods and enjoy themselves. This man should never be allowed to own a gun again during his entire life. He has a future to live his life out, but she does not. God bless her and her family, My best wishes are with you!!
Was it really a high powered rifle? I thought you had to use a shotgun in VA to hunt deer.
confuesd easily, the hunting laws in Virginia are quite complicated. But you can research any questions you have here.....
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/HUNTING/regulations/
[quote]Hmmm, didn’t he look in his scope? How could a woman collecting frogs look anything like a deer? This is so terrible.[/quote]
I'd actually put money on that being the reason this happened. He was using his scope instead of binoculars. This is taught as a big no no in hunter education. I bet he saw some movement and jerked the trigger never having really ever seen his supposed target. Most likely he didn't mistake a human for a deer, but never actually even saw his target.
Using the rifle scope as a means of observation is very common, and very dangerous. It is also pretty much always covered in hunter education as something you should absolutely not do.
confused, it's true there are counties that only allow shotgun hunting but are primarily counties east of Albemarle that have much flatter terrain where a high powered rifle bullet can travel much farther. I went to Ferrum and Franklin County allows rifle hunting.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the people inflicted by this tragedy. Look I'm from Ferrum, I know Jason and he couldn't have meant to kill that girl. I admit trespassing, not smart, but it happens in the woods. Can you distinguish your land from other land? Now when you hunt you should always see what you're hunting, common sense not exercised by my friend. You people are so quick to judge someone. I'm not condoning what happened, but you people aren't right. I bet you call yourself a good Christian too.!!! He made a grave mistake-(wreckless). We all know the justice system is phuked up(capitalism rules), so what do you expect to happen, him get the liquid juice. Three families have been rifted by this, not to mention a small town, isn't that enough.
Oh yeah LawDawg can get these nuts!!!!!
Jess was a dear friend of my son, and I had the honor of knowing her. She was a joy to be around, full of life, and a great friend in good times and bad. She will be deeply missed.
This is no accident. This is pure and simple not following the rules of shooting. Be 100% sure of your target and whats beyond your target. Once you squeeze the trigger there is no turning back. I am sure this gentleman will suffer mentally for a long time with what he has done. He may choose on his own to never shoot a firearm again. The human psyche is a powerful weapon. But, I do feel the penalty, lawfully needs to be quite severe. No one can be so negligent and not suffer some penalty lawfully.