Moses Lake boy accidentally shot during Montana hunting trip

MOSES LAKE - A Moses Lake teenager was accidentally shot Monday while on a hunting trip near Helena, Mont.

Robert Lutskas, 59, and his 14-year-old son were hunting in the Refrigerator Canyon area west of York, Mont., according to Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton. About 4 p.m., 911 dispatch received a call from Lutskas, who said his son was shot when a rifle accidentally discharged while the two were driving back to hunting camp.

Before the incident, the two were driving out to check the hunting conditions but encountered a substantial amount of snow and stopped to hunt. When they returned to the vehicle, the boy, who had not been deer hunting before, used a magazine drop to unload the weapon but it later became apparent there was still one shell in the chamber, Dutton said.

As they headed back to camp, the son placed the butt of the Remington M 77 model rifle on the vehicle floor, with the muzzle toward the roof. They reportedly hit a bump, causing the rifle to fire, Dutton said.

The bullet struck the boy in the left bicep, exiting through his shoulder and through the roof of the Ford F-250 truck, according to Dutton.

Lutskas was able to call 911 when they reached cell service. Initially, both air and ground ambulances were dispatched and met the two at Cottonwood Gulch near the Helena National Forest.

The boy was transported to St. Peter's Hospital in Helena, where he was listed in stable condition Tuesday.

Dutton said if the bullet had hit the boy two inches closer to the body, he may have died. Current evidence shows the shooting was accidental.