Exeter High student killed by gunshot fired during Tulare County hunt

A 16-year-old boy was killed Sunday morning when he was apparently shot by another hunter in the Sequoia National Forest, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department reported.

Luke Burns, 16, was a student at Exeter Union High School, principal Robert Mayo said.

Mayo said he called a school assembly Monday morning to inform students about the boy’s death and offer counseling services from both school psychologists and an outside agency that helps students in crisis.

The incident was reported about 7 a.m. in the area of Horse Meadow.

A sheriff’s statement said the boy was walking a short distance ahead of other hunters and was obscured by brush when one of the other hunters fired a shot, striking him in the torso.

He was taken by a vehicle to the ranger station near California Hot Springs, where he was treated by fire personnel before he died.

The Exeter FFA will hold a candle light vigil for Luke at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the school farm.

This story was originally published October 5, 2015 at 10:31 AM with the headline "Exeter High student killed by gunshot fired during Tulare County hunt."