MOSCOW, January 24 (RIA Novosti) – A man in northern Siberia has shot dead a relative after mistaking him for a moose, investigators said Friday.
The apparent accident took place while the 43-year-old man was hunting with relatives in the Yamalo-Nenets Region, the Investigative Committee said in a statement Friday. When he saw something rustling in the bushes 70 meters away, he fired in that direction, believing it was a moose, the statement said.
Upon reaching the spot, the hunter discovered he had shot one of his relatives, who subsequently died on the way to the hospital.
Investigators have opened a criminal case into death by negligence over the incident, which happened in December but was only reported Friday.
If charged and convicted, the man faces up to two years in prison.
Investigators did not specify how the two men were related.
