Hunter charged in shooting that killed one Ferrum College student, hurt another

10:34 p.m.

By Candice Nelson
WSLS Reporter
cnelson@wsls.com

Conservation Police say the hunter is Jason Cloutier, 31. He's charged with manslaughter, reckless handling of a firearm, and trespassing on county property.

Cloutier is currently in the Franklin County Jail.

Neither Ferrum College nor the investigators have released the victims' names yet, but investigators with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries say the woman who was killed is 23-years-old, and is from northern Virginia. The male student who was shot in the hand is at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He's 20 years old and is also from northern Virginia.

In a news conference on Tuesday evening, Franklin County Sheriff, Ewell Hunt, answered questions. Hunt said the students were in the woods collecting animals, like turtles, for a science project. The male student had his arm around the female student, so when the hunter fired one shot, the bullet went through her chest and the other student's hand.

Hunt went on to say Cloutier was the first to call 911.

Ferrum College Police Chief, Libby Legg, said people should be extra careful this time of year when they're in the woods.

"Everyone in the woods needs to be wearing blaze orange this time of year, even your pets when you're walking your animal,' she said.

She says the college took precautions once hunting season began to warn students about safety.

"An e-mail went out earlier this year. There was some hunting safety discussed with all the students this year," Legg explained.

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10 On Your Side's Candice Nelson is in Ferrum, and will have a full update on WSLS at 11:00 p.m.

7:35 p.m.

From Candice Nelson, in the field
WSLS Reporter
cnelson@wsls.com

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office says both people shot were Ferrum students.

One of the students shot was a young woman, and has died. Investigators tell us she was shot in the chest.

The other student shot is a young man. He has shot in the hand.

Investigators say a group of three students were walking along an access roads in the woods near the old industrial property about a mile west of campus, on county owned property. They were collecting animals for a science project.

The hunter told investigators that he heard a rustling, then fired once from a high-powered rifle, hitting two of the three students.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office now says they do not know if the hunter was on private or county owned property, and the case is still under investigation.

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5:57 p.m.

By Scott Leamon
WSLS Reporter
sleamon@wsls.com

Lt. Karl Martin with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries tells WSLS that two people were shot about a mile west of Ferrum College.

Martin says the two are listed in serious condition, and the DGIF is trying to verify if both are students.

When WSLS called Ferrum College about the second person shot, college spokeswoman Natalie Faunce would only say she had been told about the one student involved.

Martin says investigators are interviewing the hunter.

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5:48 p.m.

We just received an update from Ferrum College.

Spokeswoman Natalie Faunce says a local resident was deer hunting on county owned property, and mistook the student for a deer.

Faunce adds that the shooting happened about a mile west of campus, in an industrial park area. The Game Warden is now handling the investigation.

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5:10 p.m.

Ferrum College just sent out an e-mail alert.

It claims the shooting happened off-campus, and there is no danger to anyone on-campus. The alert also says one person was shot.

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5:03 p.m.

Ferrum College spokeswoman Natalie Faunce confirms to WSLS that a Ferrum College student was shot by a hunter this afternoon.

Faunce said the Franklin County Sheriff's Office is investigating. When WSLS called the Sheriff's Office to seek additional information, they told us to call back later.