(Jacob Bruns, Headline USA) A Kansas man was shot by a dog Saturday morning in a tragic hunting accident, the New York Post reported.
Witchita plumber Joseph Smith, 30, was sitting in the front seat of a pickup when the dog, in the back seat, stepped on his hunting rifle, causing it to fire right into Smith’s back. Although first-responders arrived within minutes, Smith reportedly died at the scene.
Sumner County police confirmed that the dog belonged to the truck’s owner but did not disclose whether it was his dog or someone else’s. Smith was a passenger in the truck and was on a weekend hunting trip about 40 miles south of Wichita, according to KSN News.
Smith’s boss, Chris Brown of Brown’s Plumbing Services, started a GoFundMe page to help his family cover funeral costs.
On the page, Brown noted that Smith was a beloved member of the community.
“Joe is absolutely the most unique individual I have had the pleasure of meeting,” Brown wrote. “He was loved by all of us from all walks of life and loved the same.”
Smith’s coworkers also had kind words of remembrance for the deceased.
“Joseph Smith was a truly amazing man. He was kind, funny, smart, and very loving. Every time he walked through the door, he would make someone smile,” a friend and coworker named Jessica said.
“Either from being a goofball or just his natural presence making everything better,” she added. “It wasn’t hard to love Joe because he always made you feel like you were one of a kind and never left a conversation without letting you know he loved you.”
