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(CNN) - A man traveled from Norway to Florida to surprise his father-in-law for his birthday. But when he jumped from the bushes, he was killed by mistake.
Christopher Bergan, 37, arrived at the home of Richard Dennis, 61, on Tuesday night and began knocking on the door of his house.
Dennis, unsure of who was outside, fled the person, Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson said at a press conference. But, just a few hours later at 11:30 pm, the knocking began again, this time at the back door, Johnson said.
Dennis turned on the back door light and left.
It was then that Bergan, the 37-year-old son-in-law, newly arrived from a flight from his native Norway, jumped out of the shadows, scaring Dennis. He fired a shot, hit Bergan in the heart and killed him instantly, Johnson said.
"The investigation has revealed that this was completely accidental," Johnson said. "It was a really sad fact."
No charges are warranted in this case, Johnson said.
"Anyone who is religious should pray for this family, because I can't imagine what is going on," he said.
Accident
