Daniel Sheets, 14, went deer hunting with two cousins and a friend Tuesday. Authorities said the teens split into two groups and started hunting. Investigators say Sheets left his partner briefly to recover an item from the other group.
Authorities believe the alleged shooter may have heard movement in the woods and believed it to be a deer and accidentally shot Sheets. Sheets' body was later found Wednesday near the Harnett-Lee county line.
Authorities said after the teen confessed to the shooting, he led authorities to the gun that was used and thrown into the woods. Authorities said the teen did not have his parents' permission to have the gun.
"The juvenile was not even supposed to have a gun," Harnett County Sheriff Larry Rollins said. "He was not supposed to be in the woods hunting."
Rollins also said that the teen did not tell the other teens what happened to Sheets. None of the teens were wearing hunter orange the night of the shooting or had hunting licenses.
Rollins said he will turn over a report to the district attorney's office to decide whether charges will be filed in the case.
Sheets' funeral will be held Sunday at Crossroads Church in Broadway.
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