Steven Fromholz, a 68-year-old white male, died on January 19, 2014, in Eldorado, Texas. Fromholz was a renowned Texas singer-songwriter, poet, and actor. His death occurred due to an accidental rifle discharge while he was preparing for a hog hunting trip at the Flying B Ranch near Eldorado. According to the Schleicher County Sheriff's Office, Fromholz was moving a Rossi .44-magnum lever-action rifle in a soft case that was unzipped at the bottom. The rifle fell out of the case, struck the ground, and discharged. The bullet went through the case, hit Fromholz at the bottom of his left wrist, passed through the other side, and struck him just below his right eye. Fromholz was still alive but unconscious when deputies arrived and died en route to the hospital.
Fromholz was with his girlfriend, Susan Buchholz, at the time of the accident. They were preparing for an afternoon hunt to address a feral hog infestation that had been menacing the goat population in Schleicher County. Buchholz was getting some wire cutters and corn out of a pickup when she heard the gun go off. She initially thought Fromholz was shooting at a hog, but when he did not respond, she found him lying face down on the ground.
There were no arrests, suspects, or litigations related to Fromholz's death, as it was determined to be a tragic accident. The Schleicher County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the rifle's discharge was accidental and that there was no foul play involved. Fromholz's death was widely mourned in the Texas music community, where he was celebrated for his contributions to the early Austin music scene and his role in the Outlaw country movement. He was also honored as the Poet Laureate of Texas in 2007.
