Skagit County teen hunter charged with manslaughter in accidental shooting

MOUNT VERNON — Skagit County prosecutors today filed a first-degree manslaughter charge against a 14-year-old boy who fatally shot a 54-year-old hiker whom he mistook for a bear on Sauk Mountain earlier this month.

According to charging papers filed this afternoon in Skagit County Juvenile Court, the boy and his 17-year-old brother encountered fog on the morning they went up the mountain to hunt for bear so they hiked up to a trailhead.

Later, while climbing down the mountain, they saw movement about 100 yards below them, according to charging papers. They stopped and looked through their rifle scopes. The younger boy saw a black outline moving toward them, according to charging papers.

The 14-year-old boy thought it was a bear. The older boy agreed it appeared to be a bear and told his brother to go ahead and fire, charging papers said.

Pamela Almli, 54, an experienced hiker from the Snohomish County community of Oso, was shot in the head on a marked trail.

Police said the boy fired a .270-caliber rifle from about 120 yards away. Both the boy and his brother had told investigators with the Skagit County Sheriff's Office after the accident that they had been "convinced" they were looking at a bear, said Chief Deputy Will Reichardt.

The 14-year-old boy from Concrete could face up to nine months in juvenile detention if convicted as charged, prosecutors said.

The Times generally does not name juveniles charged with a crime.

The boy's father refused to comment this afternoon. But the boy's attorney, Roy Howson, said, "this appears to be a great tragedy from everybody's standpoint." The boy's family is "broken up in every way imaginable."

The boy was licensed, had taken a hunting safety class when he was 9 years old and was legally permitted to hunt in Washington without adult supervision.

However, prosecutors said the boy failed to follow basic guidelines in the state's hunting safety manual. In particular, he said, the boy failed to positively verify his target and what lay beyond it before fatally pulling the trigger on Aug. 2.

The shooting sparked discussion among hikers and hunters and lawmakers who say they will propose changes in state law to prevent similar tragedies.

Officials with the state Fish and Wildlife Department said last week they are considering extending hunter-education practices and possibly recommending age restrictions for hunters.

Fish and Wildlife officials also said they will examine ways to separate hunters and hikers with increased warning signs, staggered recreation times and temporary closure of certain areas to some recreational users.

"As the state's population grows, and use of outdoor recreational areas increases, we must be sure we're doing everything we can to protect all users," said Fish and Wildlife Director Jeff Koenings.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com