Teen Hunter Shot in Leg in Accidental Shooting; Transported Out of County in Stable Condition
A 15‑year‑old boy accidentally shot himself while hunting on Robinson Creek Road in Ukiah on Tuesday morning, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.
CalFire’s Howard Forest Dispatch Center notified the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office of the accidental shooting at 10 a.m. Tuesday. While all shootings are investigated by the Sheriff’s Office, deputies said it was immediately clear no crime had occurred. The 15‑year‑old slipped while hunting, and a .22‑caliber rifle discharged, striking him in the leg.discharged and injured him.
“The juvenile was transported to the airport to meet an air ambulance and taken to an out‑of‑county hospital for further treatment. He was medically stable, alert, and conscious before being transported,” the MCSO said.
“Statements and evidence obtained by investigators corroborated that the incident was accidental, and one of the juvenile’s parents informed the Sheriff’s Office the 15‑year‑old had previously completed a hunter safety course.”
The family is local.
And on a cool March morning in the hills above Ukiah, it was a reminder that even familiar ground can turn unpredictable in a heartbeat — and that in Mendocino County, the line between routine and emergency is often just one slip on wet earth.\
Gun safety rules as a reminder:
