Hunter Dies After He Accidentally Shoots Himself While Removing Gun from Vehicle: Officials

YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Texas Game Wardens said authorities responded to a report of a hunting accident in Northeast Texas that left a 45-year-old man dead.

• The agency identified the victim as Jose Ramirez of Grapevine and noted that he died after accidentally shooting himself.

• Family remembers him as “pillar” of their home in GoFundMe fundraiser

Authorities said a 45-year-old hunter died after accidentally shooting himself while getting his gun from the car.

In an article on X, Texas Game Wardens He said authorities in Northeast Texas responded shortly after midnight Saturday, Nov. 15, to “a hunting accident that claimed the life of a 45-year-old hunter from Grapevine.”

Texas Game Wardens identified the victim as 45-year-old Jose Ramirez in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Wednesday, November 19. Authorities said Ramirez “accidentally discharged the firearm while removing it from the vehicle, striking him.”

“Life-saving measures were taken, but unfortunately Mr. Ramirez died from his injuries,” the agency said.

Texas Game Wardens added in their X post that the department always hoped “a tragedy like this could have been prevented.”

“We encourage every hunter to take safety seriously,” the department wrote. “Always handle all firearms as if they were loaded, point the muzzle in a safe direction, and take time to unload your firearm before placing it in or removing it from the vehicle.”

Texas Game Wardens expressed their condolences to the victim’s family and friends in their post.

Ramirez’s son Jose has since started a venture. GoFundMe He collected donations to support his family and noted that they were “heartbroken” by his passing.

“My dad meant the world to me,” Jose wrote in the description of the fundraiser. “He taught me the most important lessons in life: to never give up, to work hard for what you want, and to always do what makes you happy, no matter how small it seems. He believed that true success comes from loving what you do and living with a happy heart.”

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Jose shared that his father was a “pillar” of their home and that “at the center of his joy was his grandson — my nephew — who was about to turn one.”

“She was his greatest blessing and the light of his life,” he added.

PEOPLE reached out to GoFundMe organizer Jose Ramirez on Wednesday, Nov. 19, for additional information.

Read the original article People