In the town of Westford, New York, a weekend hunting trip among friends in November 2013 ended in tragedy, cutting short the life of 52-year-old Charles Bruce. A resident of Franklin Square and a respected volunteer firefighter with the Malverne Fire Department for 17 years, Bruce was on an annual excursion with fellow firefighters. On that Saturday afternoon, as dusk began to settle, he was fatally shot in the chest.
The incident was described as a hunting accident.
A member of his hunting party, who was also a friend and an associate member of the same fire department, fired the fatal shot. From his position in a tree stand, the shooter reportedly mistook Bruce for a deer. Following the shooting, state police ruled the death an accident.
In the wake of the incident, the Otsego County District Attorney, John Muehl, indicated that the case might be presented to a grand jury to consider potential homicide charges against the shooter, who was left devastated by the event. Friends and fellow firefighters remembered Bruce as a cherished friend, a dedicated firefighter, a loving father of two, and an avid outdoorsman who embraced life. The Malverne Fire Department mourned his loss by draping their building in purple and black bunting and flying flags at half-staff in his honor.
