Fatal hunting incident in Wheeler County leaves 23-year-old dead

Georgia game wardens say the fatal shooting happened during an illegal hunting activity involving five adults near Spring Hill Road.

ALAMO, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- A 23-year-old man was shot and killed early Saturday during what Georgia game wardens describe as an illegal hunting activity in Wheeler County.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources says game wardens were called by the Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office around 3:30 a.m. on September 26 to investigate the fatal incident near Spring Hill Road.

According to the preliminary investigation, five adults were involved in the illegal hunting activity when the 23-year-old man was shot and killed.

Game wardens arrested 57-year-old Howard Benjie Hartley of Glenwood.

Hartley is charged with felony involuntary manslaughter, hunting deer at night, hunting from a motor vehicle, and hunting big game from a public road.

DNR’s Critical Incident Reconstruction Team is leading the investigation.

Officials say additional information will be released as it becomes available.