Skiatook Man Killed By Bullet Fired During Target Practice

Craig Day, News On 6

SKIATOOK, Oklahoma -- Osage County Sheriff's Office is investigating an accidental shooting that killed a Skiatook man Monday. 

Osage County sheriffs' investigators say 56-year-old David Reed was working on a tractor with relatives when he was shot on his left side just under his chest.

"His nephew was there approximately three feet from him when he went down," said Lou Ann Brown, Osage County Undersheriff.

Brown says the stray bullet that killed Reed was fired from a nearby field. Two men in their early 20s were across a creek shooting at paper targets.

"They had four firearms there with them; they were actually shooting two of them. One of them is a pistol, one is a rifle," Brown said.

The men told deputies they were unaware of anyone nearby and didn't see the others working because of the tree line. The names of those men, who haven't been arrested, aren't being released yet.

"Maybe not careless, but just didn't think about what they were doing," Brown said.

Friends of David Reed wouldn't go on camera, but say they're upset and the shooting should have never happened. Investigators say the death is a terrible reminder about the importance of gun safety.

"We just need to be safer about areas that are becoming more populated and a lot of growth in that area, and houses aren't as far apart as they used to be. Lots of people out there," Brown said.

Once the investigation is finished, the findings will be sent to the Osage County DA who will decide whether charges will be filed.