Hunter Dies After He Accidentally Shoots Himself While Removing Gun from Vehicle: Officials

NEED TO KNOW

• Officials responded to a report of a hunting accident in Northeast Texas that killed a 45-year-old man, Texas Game Wardens said
• The agency identified the victim as Jose Ramirez of Grapevine and noted that he died after he accidentally shot himself
• His family remembered him in a GoFundMe fundraiser as a “pillar” of their home

A 45-year-old hunter died after he accidentally shot himself while removing a gun from a car, authorities said.

In a post on X, Texas Game Wardens said authorities in northeast Texas responded shortly after midnight on Saturday, Nov. 15, concerning “a hunting accident that claimed the life of a 45-year-old hunter from Grapevine.”

In a statement shared with PEOPLE on Wednesday, Nov. 19, Texas Game Wardens identified the victim as Jose Ramirez, 45. Officials said Ramirez “was removing a firearm from a vehicle when it accidentally discharged, striking him.”

“Life saving measures were performed, but unfortunately Mr. Ramirez died of his injuries,” the agency said.

Texas Game Wardens added in their X post that the department always wishes “a tragedy like this could have been avoided.”

“We encourage every hunter to take safety seriously,” the department wrote. “Always handle all firearms as if they are loaded, keep muzzles pointed in a safe direction and take time to unload your firearm before placing or removing it from a vehicle.”

Texas Game Wardens offered their condolences to the victim’s family and friends in their post.

Ramirez’s son, Jose, has since launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to support his family and noted that they are “heartbroken” by his passing.

“My dad meant the world to me,” Jose wrote in the fundraiser’s description. “He taught me the most important lessons in life — to never give up, to work hard for what you want, and to always do what makes you happy, no matter how small it may seem. He believed that true success comes from loving what you do and living with a happy heart.”

Jose shared that his dad was a “pillar” of their home and “at the center of his joy was his granddaughter — my niece — who is about to turn one.”

“She was his greatest blessing and the light of his life,” he added.

PEOPLE contacted the GoFundMe organizer, Jose Ramirez, for additional information on Wednesday, Nov. 19.

Read the original article on People