Hunter charged with shooting, killing friend, Volusia deputies say

Man died in 2016 hunting incident near Oak Hill

Leeshawn Sutton, 58, was indicted on manslaughter charges Wednesday, May 24, 2017.

A Volusia County man who mistook his friend for a deer last year while hunting near Oak Hill shooting and killing him, was indicted on manslaughter charges Wednesday by a grand jury.

Leeshawn Sutton, 58, turned himself in at the Volusia County Branch Jail on charges of manslaughter and violating hunting rules.

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Deputies said they were notified on Jan. 20, 2016, that Sutton said he accidentally shot a friend with a 12-gauge shotgun deep in a wooded, swampy area west of Interstate 95 and north of Maytown Road.

The victim was identified as 65-year-old Bruce Best.

Authorities released Sutton's 911, call made minutes after the accident.

[AUDIO: Edited 911 call]

"I'm out here in Oak Hill, I just killed my friend in a hunting accident," he told dispatchers.

 

Detectives say Sutton fired the shotgun in the wrong direction, hitting his friend, after mistaking Best for a deer.

Sutton is held on $50,000 bond for the manslaughter charge and $100 for the hunting violation.


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