Bartlett boy killed in hunting accident

A 17-year-old Bartlett teen was shot to death in a freak hunting accident Wednesday morning about 35 miles southwest of Rockford, authorities said.

The victim was identified as Michael DiGiovanni, who suffered a gunshot wound to his right chest, Stephenson County Coroner Tom Leamon said Friday.

DiGiovanni and two other males, ages 18 and 14, had gone hunting for squirrels about 2.5 miles southeast of Forreston, Ill. in Ogle County early Wednesday morning.

The group had permission to hunt on the property on Townline Road, east of Mile Road, according to a news release from the Ogle County Sheriff's office.

The three teens had been hunting for a while, went to eat breakfast in Byron, and returned to the property to continue hunting. They later started a small campfire in a clearing, the sheriff's office said.

While at the campfire, the 14-year-old saw a squirrel and retrieved his shotgun to take a shot at it, the department said.

“Returning to the campfire area they realized that they were inadvertently pointing the muzzle of the shotgun at the 17-year-old who was lying on the ground,” the sheriff's office statement said. “As they (the shooter) moved to point the gun away from him, it accidentally discharged and the pellets struck the victim in the back.”

Sheriff's office deputies and Illinois Conservation Police officers responded to the scene after receiving a wireless 911 call at 10:29 a.m. Wednesday.

DiGiovanni was taken to Freeport Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The 14- and 17-year-old boys had valid Firearm Owners Identification Cards, and no hunting violations have been discovered, the sherif's office said.

“This incident appears to have been a tragic accident involving two friends,” Sheriff Greg Beitel said in the statement.