Maryland Hunter Arrested for Killing Mom of Five After Allegedly Mistaking Her for a Deer

A 74-year-old Maryland hunter has been charged with manslaughter after allegedly shooting and killing a woman he mistook for a deer in a Delaware field.

Walter Moorhead, of Salisbury, Maryland, was arrested following the fatal shooting of 39-year-old Santos Maria Chilel Soto in Ellendale on Friday evening, 18 September, according to the Delaware State Police.

Police said troopers were called to an open field near South Old State Road, north of East Robbins Road, at about 7:40pm after receiving a report that a woman had been shot.

Soto, who was from Georgetown, Delaware, was walking through the field with a man and two children when the shooting occurred, authorities said.

Moorhead was hunting deer from a ground blind when he allegedly believed he had seen a deer and fired his rifle.

'The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was walking through the field with a man and two children while Moorhead was hunting deer from a ground blind. Moorhead believed he saw a deer and fired his rifle, striking the victim,' Delaware State Police said.

Soto Pronounced Dead in Hospital

Troopers provided life-saving medical treatment at the scene before Soto was taken to an area hospital. She was later pronounced dead.

Police subsequently identified her as Santos Maria Chilel Soto.

Moorhead was taken into custody after troopers determined that he had fired the shot that struck Soto. The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Authorities have charged Moorhead with felony manslaughter for recklessly causing the death of another person. He also faces felony charges of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment.

The three reckless-endangerment counts appear to relate to the other people who were present in the field, although police have not publicly provided further details about the circumstances behind each count.

Moorhead was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court and released after posting a $43,000 cash bond (about £31,900).

The state police have stressed that anyone charged is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

People Are Divided

As expected, the devastating news prompted a wave of passionate reactions from the online community.

'MAGAs wanting to be hunters should have training informing them that deer, rabbits, and most other forest critters have four feet while humans have two feet and stand upright and are dressed when they walk,' one reader said.

'With years of experience and a high power scope you can't make that an accident,' another reader remarked.

'There is NO excuse for this, especially with a rifle and scope. You only fire a shot when you're certain of the target. Most states allow a hunter 30 minutes after sundown to still shoot. I'm guessing it was dusk out,' someone wrote.

Family Raises Money To Return Soto to Guatemala

A GoFundMe campaign was established to help Soto's family deal with the costs following her death. Her family is seeking financial assistance to cover funeral expenses and return her body to Guatemala.

According to the campaign, funeral and transportation expenses are expected to exceed $15,000 (£11,100). The fundraiser says donations could help support Soto's five children.

As of Monday, the campaign had raised $795 (£590) towards its $6,500 (£4,800) target from nine donations.