A 17-year-old Juneau high school student was killed Saturday morning when a firearm he was retrieving accidentally discharged.
The Juneau Police Department was notified at 9:04 a.m. Saturday that Ryan Mayhew, a Thunder Mountain High School senior and football player, had been shot in the torso outside a home in the 3000 block of Mountainwood Circle.
Mayhew was taken to Bartlett Regional Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries around 9:32 a.m.
“We did have a patient shortly after nine o’clock,” said Bartlett CFO Alan Ulrich, the administrator on call Saturday. “The patient was seen, treated and died.”
No other details were provided by Bartlett.
According to police, Mayhew and three other men, ages 26, 22 and 16, were preparing to go duck hunting when the shooting occurred. Mayhew was standing outside of a truck and attempted to retrieve his shotgun from the backseat by grabbing it by the barrel when it discharged.
The witnesses called 911 and began first aid until emergency responders arrived.
“The males were all friends and relatives of each other,” said JPD spokesman Lt. Dave Campbell. “When (the victim) reached into the backseat, he pulled the shotgun toward him and the shotgun discharged. It was loaded and he basically was shot right in the torso.”
No one else was injured when the shotgun fired.
Police chose not release a name because Mayhew was a minor, but multiple other sources confirmed his identity to the Empire.
Police are calling it a “tragic accident” and said “at this point it looks totally accidental.” Police have seized the weapon and the truck it came out of for evidence. An investigation is ongoing.
Next of kin has been notified, as well as the Juneau School District. JSD will provide grief counseling to students when classes resume Monday.
