Father, Daughter Killed In Hunting Accident In South Carolina

KEY POINTS

Kim Dawdry, 30, and daughter Lauren, 9, shot while reportedly driving deer
Another hunter allegedly mistook the pair as deer and fired at both
Shooting under investigation by South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

A father and his young daughter in South Carolina were shot and killed by another hunter who apparently mistook the pair for deer, police said.

The shooting occurred around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday as Kim Dawdry, 30, and his daughter Lauren, 9, were out deer hunting near Walterboro, South Carolina. Dawdry and his daughter were part of a four person hunting party when the group split up to try and drive deer into shooting range. One of the other hunters reportedly mistook Dawdry and Lauren for a deer and fired multiple shots, wounding both.

Police have not released the names of the other hunters.

Dawdry and his daughter were rushed to a nearby hospital and declared dead shortly after arriving.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources issued a statement on the incident on Twitter. It also began an investigation alongside local police.

NEWS RELEASE: Four hunters were attempting to move deer, also known as driving deer, near Barracada Road in Walterboro when two hunters were shot after being mistaken for a deer.

Those two hunters succumbed to their injuries.

SCDNR continues to investigate this incident.
— S.C. Dept. of Natural Resources (@SCDNR) January 2, 2020

“When I got the message, I just couldn’t believe it. My heart stopped when they told me it was my brother and his daughter,” Dawdry’s brother, Benny Dawdry, told reporters. “You know, it was terrible. He was a real outdoorsman. He loved the outdoors like we all do. He loved to hunt and stuff.”

An autopsy has reportedly been completed by the Colleton County Coroner, but the results were released immediately to the public.