80-Year-Old Went Hunting for Turkeys, He Fatally Shot a Man in the Back of the Head Instead, Sheriffs Say

An 80-year-old California man is behind bars after he allegedly shot another man while hunting for turkeys, police say. 

In a press release shared by the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office on Monday, April 7, authorities said John Lee of Sacramento was charged in connection with fatal shooting of 65-year-old Shawn Parrish, also of Sacramento. 

Sutter County deputies responded to reports of a hunting incident on Sunday, April 6, at approximately 9:00 a.m., near Gifford Road in the Fremont Weir Wildlife Area.

When they arrived, they found Parrish with a gunshot wound to the back of his head.

Despite first responders providing life-saving measures on Parrish, he was ultimately pronounced deceased at the scene.

According to the sheriff’s office, Lee reportedly fired his shotgun into the bush, hoping to shoot a turkey, though unaware of what he was aiming at.

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Citing authorities, KCRA News reported that Lee and Parrish were not hunting together.

Lee was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Sutter County Jail on charges of second degree murder and negligent discharge of a firearm, per the press release. 

The Sutter County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

His bail was set at $1 million and Lee will be arraigned on Wednesday, April 9, the news station added.