Man blinded in turkey hunting accident here

A Thomasville man was blinded in a turkey hunting accident on May 8 and his brother was charged with a hunting violation for shooting him, according to N.C. Wildlife Officer Brian Blankenship.

Ricky Allen Caudill, 43, lost his sight after being struck by five to eight shot pellets to the head, according to Blankenship's report, causing blindness to both eyes. The shooter was his brother, Stephen Thomas Caudill, 36, of Mooresville.

Stephen Caudill was charged with negligent hunting. Specifically, the citation stated that Stephen Caudill is charged with discharging a firearm while hunting without due caution or circumspection and in a manner so as to in danger resulting in bodily injury.

He is scheduled to appear in Alleghany County District Court on June 1 to answer to the charge.

According to the report, Justin Smith of Sparta took the Caudills turkey hunting at about 6:30 a.m. on Deer Ridge Lane, sitting Ricky Caudill down on a hillside and then sitting Stephen Caudill down about sixty yards away.

Smith then traveled to a spot about 100 yards away from Stephen Caudill along the ridgeline.

The report said Stephen Caudill heard a turkey behind him off to his left side. He told the officer that he thought his brother was in a different location.

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