A woman died of severe injuries after she was accidentally shot by a hunter who mistook her for a deer near 2998 Armenian Road, Sherman, New York, on Wednesday night.

According to the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s office, deputies and the Sherman Fire Department responded to a report of an accidental shooting around at 5:24 p.m. in the area near 2998 Armenian Road.

According to the deputies, a man present at the scene of the accident said he saw a deer in a field after which he fired a single shot at the animal. However, a few seconds later he heard a scream, and upon reaching the place about 200 yards away, he was shocked to discover an injured woman. He then called 911 and informed the police. Soon, medics arrived at the scene and the injured woman was immediately rushed to the UPMC Hamot, a hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania, where she succumbed to her injuries.

The deceased was identified as 43-year-old Rosemary Billquist. Reports stated that a man named Thomas Jadlowski went to the deputies and identified himself as the person who shot Billquist.

In his statement, Jadlowski said he believed he saw a deer in the field after which he fired a shot, however, he later discovered that he had actually shot a woman.

According to a report in WGRZ.com, the primary investigations suggest that Billquist was apparently in the field as she took her dogs for a walk at the time of the incident. The investigation also revealed that Jadlowski fired the shot after sunset which is forbidden.

Police said Jadlowski is cooperating with the investigation process. As of now, no charges have been filed against Jadlowski, however, the investigation is on.

The Chautauqua County District Attorney’s office will review the case to determine if Jadlowski will have to face criminal charges or not. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police joined the Sheriff’s deputies in the investigation process.

In a similar incident last year, an Arkansas woman died after being fatally shot by a hunter who mistook her for a deer.

The woman, whose identity was kept undisclosed, was accidentally shot when a man was hunting with his son, according to the Searcy County Sheriff's Office. The incident took place in an area west of Marshall, north-central Arkansas last year.

Officials rushed to the incident scene when they found the 29-year-old woman injured. She was not wearing “hunter orange,” explained Sheriff Joey Pruitt of Searcy County, New York Daily News reported.

Pruitt at the time said that his agency along with Arkansas State Police and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission were investigating the matter.

A spokesperson from the sheriff's office said that they would not release the names of the victim or the suspect.

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