A tragic hunting accident claimed the life of 31-year-old Andrew Mark Boots of North Judson on Saturday night February 28, 2026 in a wooded area near County Road 500 West just south of State Road 110 in rural Fulton County Indiana.
Indiana Conservation Officers responded alongside local emergency personnel around 10:30 p.m. after reports of an accidental shooting turning the quiet rural setting into an active investigation site that remained secured for hours while evidence was collected from the trees and surrounding ground.
A group of friends had been raccoon hunting in the woods when one participant aimed at an animal climbing a tree and fired a single round. The bullet struck the trunk ricocheted and struck Boots who stood nearby in the abdomen causing immediate critical injury. The precise positioning of the hunters and the angle of the shot in the dark wooded terrain created the tragic chain of events that unfolded rapidly before anyone could react leaving the group in shock as they called for help along the isolated county road.
Andrew Mark Boots was remembered by family and friends as a devoted husband to Ellyn and loving father to sons Klayton and Kooper whose world revolved around providing for them and sharing outdoor adventures. He embraced life with a deep faith in Christ and a passion for the natural world often spending time in the woods or working on projects that reflected his steady and kind nature.
Emergency crews transported Boots to Memorial Hospital in South Bend where medical teams worked urgently to treat the abdominal wound but he succumbed to his injuries on March 1 2026. The transfer across county lines to the larger trauma center highlighted the severity of the ricochet injury and the challenges of rapid response in rural Indiana hunting areas after dark. No other members of the hunting party sustained injuries during the incident.
Indiana Conservation Officers continue their active investigation into the February 28 accident classifying it as a tragic mishap with no criminal intent identified at this stage. Detectives have interviewed all participants reviewed the scene evidence and examined the firearm while emphasizing proper hunting safety practices to prevent similar ricochet incidents in wooded environments. The probe remains open as officials compile a final report for the Fulton County prosecutor.
Family members have shared heartfelt tributes recalling Andrew Mark Boots for his love of family the outdoors and his unwavering faith while organizing community support through a GoFundMe to assist with funeral expenses and care for Ellyn and the boys. The North Judson and broader Fulton County area has rallied with prayers and offers of help reflecting on the risks of nighttime hunting and the importance of safe shot placement.
