In the woods of Johnstown, Wisconsin, a day of family hunting turned into a tragedy on April 17, 2016. David R. Tilton, a 37-year-old White / Caucasian male, was turkey hunting with family members when a fatal accident occurred. According to the Rock County Sheriff's Office, Tilton was attempting to retrieve a turkey that had been shot when he moved into the line of fire of another hunter in his party.
Tragically, he was struck in the back by a shot from a fellow hunter. Despite immediate efforts to save his life, David Tilton was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident cast a dark shadow over what was meant to be a recreational family outing. An autopsy later confirmed that the cause of death was trauma from a firearm.
Authorities from the Rock County Sheriff's Office conducted a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the shooting. Their findings indicated that the event was a heartbreaking accident, and they did not suspect any foul play in Tilton's death. Consequently, the case was not treated as a criminal matter, and no arrests were made nor were any suspects named in connection with the incident. The focus of the investigation remained on the unfortunate sequence of events that led to the fatal accident, leaving a family and community to mourn the sudden and tragic loss of a man remembered for his love of the outdoors.
