Man Dies In Hunting Accident

A turkey hunter shot Thursday morning in Marion County has died, according to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency spokesperson Dan Hicks.
Hicks said the shooting happened just after 7 am off of Irondale Road near South Pittsburg. He said that Virgil McNeese, 46, shot Stanley “Ransey” Whitman, 41. McNeese is the police chief for the town of Monteagle.
According to Hicks Whitman was flown to Erlanger Medical Center where he died on Friday. Both men are from Grundy County. Hicks said the two men were turkey hunting with their kids when the shooting occurred.
Hicks said the incident is still under investigation but at this point the shooting is believed to be accidental. TWRA officials in Nashville say that there are an average of 5 – 7 hunting accidents in the state each year during turkey season, however this was the first they’ve learned of during the current season. It will be up to the district attorney to decide whether or not to pursue criminal charges.