Heartland Outdoors

Father shoots son in hunting accident

Mon, January 16, 2012

WILLIAMSFIELD – Steven J. Hayworth Jr. of Washington, Ill., age 34, was shot and killed by his father in a deer hunting accident Sunday afternoon in rural Knox County.

Knox County Sheriff David Clague told the Peoria Journal Star that three hunters were together on the final day of the late-winter deer season.

Based on a preliminary investigation, the father and a friend were standing while Hayworth attempted to drive deer toward the others. Hayworth had succeeded in driving two deer toward his father, who was believed to be 400 yards away.

Steven Hayworth Sr., 59, of Trivoli fired at the deer but missed and instead hit his son in the head. The younger Hayworth was pronounced dead at the scene in rural Williamsfield by Knox County Coroner Mark Thomas.

“The shooter and victim couldn’t have seen each other,” Clague told the Journal Star. That was due to the timber and the lay of the land where they were hunting.

The father was treated Sunday and released.

An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Department responded at 3:08 p.m. to 2345 Knox Road 1750N.

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