In the early morning hours of November 8, 2014, a hunting trip in Alexandria, Louisiana, ended in tragedy, claiming the life of 37-year-old John Michael Haynes. A White/Caucasian male, Haynes was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing. On that fateful Saturday, he was with a hunting partner in a wooded area in the 400 block of Twin Bridges Road.
At approximately 7 a.m., the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office received a call about a hunting accident.
When deputies and emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene, they found Haynes had sustained a single gunshot wound. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The initial investigation suggested a heartbreaking mistake.
Subsequent inquiries by both the Alexandria Police Department and the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office determined that Haynes's hunting partner had mistaken him for a deer and fired the fatal shot. The incident was ultimately classified as a tragic hunting accident. Following a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the shooting, authorities announced that no criminal charges would be filed against the individual who fired the shot.
John Michael Haynes was remembered by his family and friends as a man with a big heart who worked in construction and as a Realtor. His sudden and tragic death served as a somber reminder to the community of the paramount importance of hunter safety and firearm vigilance.
