No charges in hunting case

By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Preliminary indications are that no charges will be filed in the shooting of a hunter on the opening day of deer gun season earlier this month.
"I'm not anticipating any charges," although the case will be reviewed by the Columbiana County prosecutor's office, Detective Allan Young of the county sheriff department, said Thursday.
Young and Ohio Division of Wildlife officials have been probing the Dec. 1 shooting of Kenny Crowell, age unavailable, of Longs Crossing, Salem Township.
It appears the shooting, which occurred in a brushy area off Campbell Road in Hanover Township, was accidental and didn't involve any overt negligence, Young said.
Crowell was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown, after the shooting and was still there Thursday, when he was listed in critical condition in the hospital's intensive-care unit.
What happened
Crowell was shot about 11:30 a.m. as he and two other hunters were dragging two dead deer that had been killed by Crowell and his stepson.
Another hunting party member, Todd O'Donnell, age unavailable, of Grafton Road, Salem Township, approached and began helping drag one of the deer.
Holding his 12-gauge shotgun in one hand, O'Donnell bent down to grab the tow rope with the other. As he did, the firearm discharged, sending a slug into Crowell's lower stomach from about six feet away.
It remains unclear whether the shotgun's safety was off or if the firearm malfunctioned, Young said.
As a matter of routine, the shotgun is being scrutinized by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation.
Regardless of the findings, Young said it's unlikely he'll seek charges in the case. He said he has interviewed Crowell, who is insisting that the shooting was accidental.
leigh@vindy.com