By Antonio Planas -
NBC News
A Texas man fatally shot his 11-year-old daughter Saturday in an apparent accident while hunting in northeast Harrison County, authorities said.
The deceased girl was identified as Daisy Grace Lynn George, a sixth-grade high school student in the Hallsville Independent School District, said Tyler Owen, captain of the Harrison County Sheriff's Office.
The girl's father, who has not been identified, has not been charged with any crime so far, according to Owen.
The man was hunting and stopped to unload the high-powered rifle.
It was then that
the gun went off and hit the girl.
"Being father and daughter is a horrible situation," Owen said.
Although the investigation is ongoing, according to him, the shooting appears to have been a tragic accident.
Operators began receiving 911 calls around 5:15 pm this Saturday about a "
hunting accident involving an 11-year-old girl
," the sheriff's office said in a statement.
They are looking for the man who allegedly fired a gun by accident at the Atlanta airport
Nov. 22, 202100: 31
"Subsequent calls determined that a father had accidentally shot his 11-year-old daughter," they added.
The sheriff's office said that despite requesting airlift, all emergency helicopters were on the ground due to inclement weather.
The seriously injured girl was transported under police protection to Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview, where she
was pronounced dead
, according to authorities.
The hunting season for the white-tailed deer began in early November, Owen said.
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Harrison County Sheriff Brandon J. Fletcher said in a statement: "Every time a young person loses his life it
is a tragedy for everyone involved
. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time." .
"We lost a very special girl"
The sheriff's office is investigating the incident in conjunction with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Game Warden.
Owen said that when the investigation is over, the district attorney will take the case and determine whether the girl's father will be charged.
Officials from the Hallsville Independent School District could not be immediately reached for comment Monday.
The KETK affiliate of our sister network NBC, in Jacksonville, Texas, reported that Hallsville Junior High announced this Sunday afternoon that, in honor of Daisy's favorite color, all staff and students across the district are
encouraged to dress purple
.
Owen said the sheriff's office is working with the school district to provide grief counselors.
The GoFundMe account that was set up to help pay for Daisy's funeral expenses has a goal of raising $ 10,000, and as of Monday afternoon,
more than $ 8,800 had been collected
from around 138 donations.
"On November 27, God received an angel whose time was stopped very soon," says a message on the account.
"Through a hunting accident we lost a very special girl. She was always joking to lift everyone's spirits. She loved to draw. Daisy loved being surrounded by nature. She was always ready for an adventure big or small. Please help us to make this little girl rest in peace. Thank you very much for any help, "adds the message.
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According to state figures
, hunting accident fatalities are rare
, but not unheard of.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said in a 2020 accident report that between 2016 and 2020, 12 people were accidentally killed.
According to the report, another 107 were involved in non-fatal accidents during the same time period.