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Veteran Wildlife Officer Kills Turkey Hunter

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First Wildlife Officer Involved In Shooting In 25 Years


WILKES COUNTY, N.C. - State wildlife officials said a veteran officer who shot and killed a hunter in Wilkes County early Saturday morning near Cain Creek road on private property had been provoked and was acting in self-defense.

Wildlife Officer Mark Minton was patrolling the area for the first day of turkey hunting season when a confrontation occurred with a hunter, identified as 76-year-old Clyde Coffey.


Capt. Rusty Hunter with the North Carolina Wildlife Commission said the officer acted in self-defense when he shot and killed Coffey.

"There is no evidence to suggest the officer confused the hunter with an animal," Hunter said. "It appears, from all information gathered, the officer was protecting himself. And I don't know any further details than that."

Mark Minton is a 12-year veteran with the North Carolina Wildlife Commission.

Hunter said Minton was patrolling the area checking for bait traps, bag limits and hunting licenses.

Coffey's family members said Sunday they doubt Minton's claim that he was provoked. "He was taken from us and he was shot on his own land minding his own business. Who shoots a 76-year-old on his own land?" Coffey's daughter told WXII12 news.

"He was a family man who loved his family," she added. "They were the center of his world. This was totally senseless. He was the best father, and grandfather and great-grandfather."

Wildlife officials said this is no doubt a difficult time for its officer's and the victim's family.

"I just can't imagine being put in that situation as a law enforcement officer," Hunter said. "Every emotion you can think of as a supervisor of another wildlife officer, knowing that someone has been shot, whether it's an officer or a sportsman -- every emotion you can imagine you go through."

Minton is on administrative leave pending a State Bureau of Investigation inspection.


This is the first wildlife officer-involved shooting in almost 25 years.
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I cant believe this doesnt happen alot more. I have heard alot of guys in the county I hunt say they would kill the warden if they ever saw him on their land. Course nearly everyone there poaches and hates the warden because he is tough on poachers.
 
The question that I keep asking myself without an answer is how does a 76 year old man on his own land, as his daughter says, "minding his own business" provoke a CO? You would really have to know something of the CO's profile, whether or not he has a history of confrontational behavior.
 
TWRA officer killing a man on his own private property is just not right ,I dont care what the situation is.Personaly I think TWRA has gotten to much power,and should not be able to even be own private property , any time of the day or night as they chose.I am a LEO and I cant even do that,so why should they
I know I will be chastised for speaking out about TWRA, But I know some real [watch your language] who just love to flaunt their authority, mostly the young ones...
 
I stand corrected on the mix up on the state, sorry I just got home and no sleep yet..but I stand firm on my opinions on the wildlife officers..
Seminole39,no need to be an ass to me,I made a mistake on the state,I am new here,this is just about my 3rd post I think, so back [deleted] off DUDE!
 
agree with icemann they do strut there stuff alot. had run end to some my self and was doing nothin wrong and he was a jerk just like i had got caught doin something wrong,but not all of them r bad i have a friend that is one and he will say some do get out of hand just MO
 
I agree IceMann and bigdeer. Some use their powers too much thinking they are all that. I think they might have a little too much power as well.
 
I have ran across GWs that act alittle cocky but they always loosen up when they learn that I am doing things legal. It has to be a tough job knowing that most everyone you deal with has a gun. Never know when you are dealing with someone who has a problem with law enforcment in general.
 

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