Cheney accidentally shoots fellow hunter at nearby ranch
By Kathryn Garcia and Jaime Powell
Caller-Times
February 12, 2006
Vice
President Dick Cheney accidentally fired upon and injured a hunting
companion during a weekend trip to the Armstrong Ranch in Kenedy
County, peppering the 78-year-old with shotgun pellets while stalking
quail.
The vice president sprayed prominent Harry Whittington
with pellets from a 28-gauge shotgun while shooting quail at about 5:30
p.m. Saturday at the Kenedy County ranch, where he is a frequent
visitor.
Whittington is in stable condition, said Yvonne
Wheeler, spokeswoman for Christus Spohn Hospital Memorial. It is
unknown when he will be released, she said.
Medical personnel
that accompanied Cheney to the ranch tended to the injured man before
paramedics arrived, said Katharine Armstrong, one of the owners of the
ranch, which is about 60 miles southwest of Corpus Christi.
"He is doing great," Armstrong said. "My sister had been up there.
He’s sitting up, talking, cracking jokes, razzing the nurses."
Armstrong said Whittington was injured to the right side of his lower face, neck, shoulder and chest.
"The
vice president has visited with Harry Whittington at the hospital and
was pleased to see he was doing fine and in good spirits," said Lea
Anne McBride, spokeswoman for the vice president.
McBride, who
confirmed the accident Sunday around noon, would not comment on whether
the White House would have released the information had the
Caller-Times not contacted them. The Caller-Times received a tip from a
member of the Armstrong family Sunday morning, 18 hours after the
incident occurred.
"I’m not going to speculate," McBride said. "When you put the call into me, I was able to confirm that account."
Cheney was scheduled to return to the White House on Monday. He returned to his home Sunday evening.
Armstrong
said Cheney turned to shoot quail that had just been flown away,
accidentally peppering one side of Whittington’s body. Armstrong said
Cheney was unaware Whittington had approached him from behind.
"This
is of course not something that you want to happen, but it does happen
sometimes," Armstrong said. "It’s a risk when any shooting sport is
involved."
Whittington had stepped away from the hunting party
to search for a downed quail and was within 30 yards of rejoining
Cheney and another hunter, but had not made his presence known, when a
second group of quail flushed, Armstrong said.jaime
Cheney had
picked out one of the quail, followed it with his gun and shot,
inadvertently spraying Whittington with shotgun pellets, she said.jaime
She added that the sun was in his eyes.
Cheney, standing nearby, was apologetic as medical personnel tended to his wounds before paramedics arrived, she said.jaime
All safety precautions were taken by the hunters, who were wearing bright orange vests, Armstrong said.
"Everybody behaved exactly as you would want them to," Armstrong said.
"I hope this a reminder to everyone to be safety conscious when enjoying the outdoors."
Armstrong
Ranch, purchased in 1885 and settled in 1882 by John Armstrong III, is
a 50,000-acre spread that draws countless prominent visitors and has
been in the influential South Texas family since it was settled.
Katharine is the daughter of Tobin Armstrong, a high-profile rancher
with political connections who died in 2005. Cheney was among the
guests who attended his family.
Armstrong said Whittington holds no ill feelings toward Cheney and doesn’t plan to sue.
"Oh,
heavens, no," Armstrong said. "This happens, and my God, I’ve never
seen a case of hard feelings. I bet this would deepen their
friendship."
Contact Kathryn Garcia at 886-3792 or
Contact Jaime Powell at 886-3716 or
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