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SPRINGVILLE — A man who was shot by an individual who police believe was hunting illegally hopes hunters will ensure others' safety before firing their guns.
Jayme Turner, 37, was shot in the side of the neck Saturday while working at his company, Hunga Munga, which develops mechanical broad heads used for hunting deer and bears, Turner said.
Turner was operating a forklift when he heard a gunshot blast and felt a sharp pain on the right side of his neck, he said.
Turner immediately dove to the ground and checked that he was OK.
He didn't see anyone coming from the direction of the gunshot, but another man who heard the shot came to his aid and they called the police, according to Turner.
Springville police Lt. David Caron said emergency personnel received the phone call just before 2:00 p.m., but the hunter had left before the police arrived.
When you're in an environment overseas, you expect you're going to get shot at. One of the things you don't expect to happen is to get shot here at home.
–Jayme Turner, shooting victim
The witnesses said after the incident they saw a man calling his large, black dog that was running toward them and when the dog returned, the man left in a hurry, Caron said.
Turner's injury wasn't serious and he was treated in the hospital for a fleshwound.
The stray pellets also hit a trailer and blew out a nearby office window, Turner said.
Turner, a military veteran, said he was surprised to discover no one was shooting at him specifically.
"When you’re in an environment overseas, you expect you’re going to get shot at," Turner said. "One of the things you don’t expect to happen is to get shot here at home."
Saturday marked the first day of the Pheasant Hunt in Utah and police are reminding hunters it is illegal to discharge a firearm within city limits.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Springville police at 801-489-9421.
"At this point we just want to talk to him and find out what he was thinking," Caron said.
Contributing: Sam Penrod and Cleon Wall
