CHOCTAW COUNTY — The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is investigating a hunting accident involving two Starkville city employees.
Jeff Lyles, city code officer, shot hunting partner, Ken Honeycutt, city building inspector, in Choctaw County Monday afternoon. WFP officials said Honeycutt was exiting the woods when he was shot once in the pelvis.
Honeycutt, 38, was taken to OCH Regional Medical Center and has had multiple surgeries. According to the Facebook page of his girlfriend, Caryl Pritchard, Honeycutt is still on ventilation and is sedated. Her latest post as of 8:30 a.m. today said: “probably 2 or 3 more (surgeries) to finish cleaning bone fragments from wound.”
Jim Walker, public information director for WFP, said Lyles, 48, likely shot at a silhouette he thought was a deer.
The investigation is ongoing, and Lyles could face criminal charges
“It appears the rifle that Lyles used was not a legal weapon for this current season — was of a caliber that isn’t legal for this season,” said Walker said.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 29 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 29 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
